Penny Blood Serial Cover — page 75: what you’re looking at

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

ALFRED DE ROSANN. 67 very short distance was to be completed ere they would arrive at Pontchartrain, where a light repast of beans, bread, and water, would be dealt out to those unhappy beings whom the laws of their country had condemned to terrible penances and privations. CHAPTER VI. UNCLE THOMAS. ARRIVED at Pontchartrainythe prisoners were con- ducted to a miserable inn or cabaret, where their meagre fare was speedily provided for them in the kitchen, while the Gendarmes sate down in an ante- chamber toa substantial breakfast of cold meatand wine, which latter is generally known in France by the name of piquette. De Rosann rejected the odious pulse, but was fain to devour the bread to repress the cray- ings of his appetite: Champignon inquired if he could not be unchained from his comrade for a moment, and be accommodated with a saucepan, &c., to cook his beans ad la maitre d’ hotel; but on receiving an - answer in the negative, he remained sulkily silent: and Belle-Rose occupied himself with the savoury spectacle of a couple of fowls that were roasting be- fore the fire, under the care ofa little girl of about thirteen or fourteen years of age, whom the Gen- darmes called Felicité. Presently a bright idea struck Belle-Rose. He beck- oned the girl towards him, and seizing an opportunity when the backs of the Gendarmes were turned against the prisoners, he began the following conversation in a low whisper. His companions saw that a joke was in train; and not only on account of Belle-Rose’s noto- rious facetious disposition, but also in strict obsery- ance of the principles of mutual abettance and aid CoOmicoooks