Penny Blood Serial Cover — page 164: what you’re looking at

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

156 ALFRED DE ROSANN. ere I receive any more favours at your hands, my worthy host, will you excuse me if I be impertinent in asking your name ?” | “ Louis Dorval, at your service,’ returned the farmer. “]T shall not forget it,’? said Belle-Rose. “ Let us now proceed to the mysterious chamber.’’ Dorval—since the reader is at present acquainted with the name of the hospitable farmer—took the candlestick in his hand, and conducted his two guests up a narrow staircase that terminated in-a gallery, along one side of which were windows looking into a yard at the back of the house, and on the other were the doors of the various bed-chambers. At the end of the corridor was the apartment destined to receive De Rosann and Belle-Rose. The lock for sometime resisted the strong hand of Dorval ; but it eventually yielded to the rusty key, and the travellers followed their guide into the haunted room. It was large and airy ; the ceiling was somewhat discoloured here and there with damps, which the heat of no occasional fire repressed ; and the bedsteads were mouldering away as rapidly as disuse and worms could consume them. “ Well—what do you think of the bed-chamber wherein you must this night repose??? asked the farmer, holding up his candle to cast the light into as wide a circumference as possible. | “I see no reason why it should not be very com- fortable,’?? answered De Rosann. “ Nor I,’’ added Belle-Rose, with a yawn. “7 perceive you are fatigued,” said Dorval, “and desirous of a good night’s. rest. Stay one moment, and I will fetch your mattresses.’ The farmer left the room as he uttered these words, and returned in a few minutes, laden with the neces- sary apparatus for making upthe beds. The arrange- ments were speedily completed ; and having wished our hero and his companion an undisturbed repose, he withdrew to his own apartment. Go IDOOKSEEO =) a