Penny Blood Serial Cover — page 183: what you’re looking at

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

ALFRED DE ROSANN. 175 “Tf you choose to pay attention, and neither inter- rupt me with adulation nor with blame, I will conclude the history of my adventures,” said Champignon; and having received the promise demanded, he proceeded as follows. ‘‘ No sooner had I left the prison walls, than I hurried down two or three streets as quickly as my legs would carry me, uncertain whither to go, a perfect stranger in Brest, and fearful of being arrested every moment. At length I saw an old-clothes shop in a narrow lane ; and knowing that I must entrust my secret to somebody to procure a change of raiment, I rushed into the house, knocked down a chair in which a large cat was reposing, trampled on the paw of a surly dog, that commenced a barking deafening to the ear, and ran against an old man who issued from achamber adjoining his shop, to ascertain the meaning of so extraordinary a disturbance. At first he was purple through intensity ofire ; but I gradually succeeded in pacifying his wrath ; and he listened to my tale with the greatest attention. The Gendarme’s eloak was almost new, and the cocked hat was in tolerable condition. I offered them in exchange for any suit of clothes he chose to give me; and a bargain was soon made to our mutual satisfaction. Just as I was about to leave the shop, the old man inquired if I had a passport ;—‘ Because,’ said he, ‘ on account of the disturbance in the dagne, no one will be permitted to leave the town without producing his papers.’—I frankly confessed I had none ; and my dilemma ap- peared to be as great as ever: but in a moment an idea struck me, and I addressed the salesman as fol- fows :—‘ My worthy friend and benefactor,’ said I, ‘you must not do things by halves, nor suffer a fellow-creature to be arrested for want of a little as- sistance. You have accommodated me with a seedy coat and a patched pair of pantaloons, and you may as well lend me your passport. There is not much difference between us—except that I am somewhat younger and better-looking—and your nose is most infernally crooked ; added to which I might notice a slight squint—hut, barring those defects, you are as COMME OOO<SaCOlnn