Penny Blood Serial Cover — page 146: what you’re looking at

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

138 ALFRED DE ROSANN. of the ideas of justice entartained by this modern Draco. | “ Summum jus, summa injuria,’ thought De Rosann, anxious that this conversation should ter- minate, for the topie was anything but agreeable to him : and at this moment he again envied the wonder- ful coolness and sang-froid of Belle-Rose, whose countenance did not vary a shade, nor his features a muscle, as he had discoursed on matters so intimately connected with his own private circumstances, and those of his companion. To the great delight of our hero, Claude soon rose ~ from the table, wished his guests a respectful “ Good morning,’ and issued forth to resume his toils, In a quarter of an hour, when Belle-Rose thought the pea- sant was at a sufficient distance, he madea sign to De Rosann, who gave a nod to signify acquiescence, and they once more set out on their journey, having re- turned a thousand thanks for the hospitality they had experienced. It was now nearly three o’clock ; the oblique rays of the sun with difficulty penetrated through the thick wood, which became more dense and entangled the farther our travellers advanced into it; and a refreshing breeze, blowing directly from the westward, diminished still further the influence of the heat. | ‘“‘ Let us proceed gently,”’ said Belle-Rose; “for it is useless—nay eyen dangerous, to quit the mazes of the wood ere night-fall. Weare as secure in these labyrinths as in the midst of the deserts of Saara ; but were we to emerge into the open fields, we should run the risk of a disagreeable encounter.”’ “Tt is extraordinary,’ remarked Alfred, ‘that the Gendarmes do not search this wood throughout in the first instance, T’hey cannot expect to find fugitive con- victs walking quietly along the main-roads, to be picked up at pleasure, and be reconducted to their gaols.”’ _ Live and learn,’ quoth the proverb, my dear fel- low,” cried Belle-Rose : ‘‘ your astonishment is very natural; but two words from the lips of experience Gom Eloo <SiiGO ee a —