Penny Blood Serial Cover — page 97: what you’re looking at

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

ALFRED DE ROSANN. . 89 the 5th of May, when the chain entered the dagne of Brest ; and a strict personal examination instantly commenced. One by one the convicts were submit- ted to the scrutiny of an old man in a little office or cabinet. ‘There they were stripped to the skin, and not a crevice of their garments escaped the most mi- nute investigation. When this ceremony was accom- plished, they were conducted to the baths, and thence each to a cacho¢ for the night ; and on the following morning they were supplied with new suits of clothes, their own being taken away to give place to garments made of cloth of two different colours. Belle-Rose entered the cabinet before De Rosann, and was instantly requested by the old man to divest himself of his apparel. ‘¢ Since you are determined to see me like Adam,”’ said the facetious Pierre, ‘ I must e’en obey : there is my jacket.”’ “ You have no files—no watch-springs—concealed _ herein ?”’ inquired the old man, while he plunged his hands into the pockets with a care that showed the little reliance he meant to placeon the answer which the convict was certain to return to his question. ‘¢ No—but I have an important document in my possession, and I suppose the law does not authorize you to take it away from me.” “ Nous verrons,”’ returned the old man, fishing out the paper, and putting on his spectacles to ex- amine it. “’Tis a good and genuine passport, my lad,’ he.added, casting a searching glance at Belle- Rose ; “ marked with the regular stamp—duly sign- ed—and endorsed. And the personal description too,”’ he continued leisurely, “what says that ? Age—figure —hair, dark—forehead, high—eyebrows, black— nose—mouth—chin—eh ! eh ! all right to a nicety : and the name, Henri Mercier,—my good fellow,’ said the old man abruptly, “ how came you by this passport ?”’ a Me “My daysare devoted to the service of La France, replied Belle-Rose boldly, but with a partial anxiety; 8 CoOmicoooks (GO)