Penny Blood Serial Cover — page 138: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

130 ALFRED DE ROSANN. “TI dare swear he has not,’’ carelessly remarked Belle-Rose. | “Nor will he ever,’ added De Rosann with a sig- nificant accent; for he was afraid his companion would soon launch out into exaggerations even too ridiculous to be believed by the old woman, and her ignorant granddaughter. But at that moment the door opened, and a sturdy peasant entered the hut. He made a respectful bow in a military fashion to the two strangers, and, drawing forward another stool, seated himself at the table, on which Jeannette placed three soup-plates and as many wooden spoons. “Will not those gentlemen condescend to partake of our soup ?”’ asked the labourer in good French, which contrasted strongly with the horrible patozs spoken by his mother. | : Jeannette made a sign for her father to change the conversation ; but the hospitable peasant did not understand her meaning, and persisted in his inquiry wherefore De Rosann and Belle-Rose disdained the soup ?”’ ‘* People who have seen kings never eat sowpe maigre, papa,’ exclaimed Jeannette, unable to keep silent any longer on that interesting head. “The girl 1s mad !”? cried Claude, for such was the peasant’s name: “have not I often seen our gal- lant Emperor? and do I refuse good potage on account of that? No,no! such pride is too ridicu- lous !7? | ‘Napoleon was not so tall as you,?’ returned Jeannette ; ‘‘ but these gentlemen have seen the King of China—the celebrated Caccancaraneary, or some such name—who Is as high as the tower at Brest—who eats ten oxen at one meal—who sits upon a crocodile —who takes up a cow by the tail—and who clothes his cattle in steel jackets and wadded pelisses.”? The astonishment of the worthy peasant at this tirade can be better conceived than described : the extraordinary contortion that his countenance assumed —~the rolling of his eyes—@nd the manner in which COPMICLOOLKS (6)