Penny Blood Serial Cover — page 139: what you’re looking at

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

ALFRED DE ROSANN,. 131 he held his*breath so as not to lose a syllable, made such an impression upon Belle-Rose and De Rosann, that they burst forth into a convulsive fit of laughter, thus adding to the poor man’s confusion. “?Twas a fairy tale—do you see ?—a romance that I told your daughter, ere now,’ cried Belle- Rose, with tears still in his eyes—the effect of the violent excitement his risible muscles had undergone, * Ah! 1 comprehend,’’ returned Claude; and he good-humouredly joined in the mirth as heartily as his two guests. “Then ’tis all false!”’ cried Jeannette pettishly. “¢ Nay, my child—it was done to amuse you,”’ said her father, who had remarked the frown upon her countenance. . “In that case 1 will forgive you,’’ exclaimed she, casting a kind glance at Belle-Rose. “Tam an old soldier myself,” said the peasant, after a long pause, during which two more plates | were laid on the table, and the soup was poured out into each ; “and I confess that the history of the Chinese monarch somewhat startled me; for I have served under Napoleon—had the supreme honour of fighting beneath the hanners of the greatest warrior that ever the world produced—and never do I seek my humble couch without offering up a prayer, im- ploring the Divine Majesty to suffer the ashes of the departed hero to be one day cradled in that soil for the glories of whose people he fought and conquered. ‘ And I sincerely hope that your prayer may be eventually granted, my brave fellow,’”’ cried De Rosann, partaking of the other’s enthusiasm: “ but alas ! I am afraid many years will yet pass away ere that last act of justice be done to Napoleon and to France !” This was a favourite topic; and the conversation - soon became general. The old woman mingled in it with warmth and ardour; she related many anecdotes of Bonaparte, and displayed an extraordinary tenacity of memory, while Jeannette listened in reverential COnnicLoooks (C@ 5}