Beautiful Rienzi; or, The Secret Vendetta — page 240: what you’re looking at

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

BEAUTIFUL RIENZI. 333 ‘¢ How far are we from New York?” The woman showed her glittering teeth. ‘‘Tamachild. I have yet to learn.” It was useless to attempt extracting any information from the gipsy queen. I began to ask her about things she was more conversant with. ‘<< Sweet lady, your brow bears a message which I cannot read,” said Adynma; ‘‘let me read your destiny.” | She took my hand in hers, but I fell asleep under the royal gaze. 1 must have slept an hour. When I awoke, the woman was murmuring in my ear: «‘ Lady—lady, the messenger awaits you.” _Lopened my eyes and raised myself; through the open door of the tent I could see Morecombe harnessing his horse, the time had come to resume our journey. Drink,” said the gipsy, presenting me with arichly chased silver goblet of wine; ‘‘the Circassian blood is faint with- out the blood of the grape; noon’s sun is heavy when the tongue is parched.” . With alow bow I quaffed the wine, and rose from my crimson couch. ‘Lady, your destiny weeps,” said the woman, mourn- fully. ‘I have been reading it; my soul is troubled; a shadow sits under your star; lady—you will lose a friend!” ‘Come, madam,” said Morecombe, appearing at the oor. I followed the gipsy out; my heart was chilled—vague awe and half belief followed her words. “‘L would lose a friend.” Perhaps my sister. Heaven forbid! Ssores of children ran round me with outstretched hands, and shouted the only English word they seemed to know, | ‘‘ Money! money! money «< Away!” cried Adynma, witha royal gesture of command; «the onest of your queen is sacred.” Nevertheless, I turned and gave them a few coins. I expressed my gratitude to my kind hostess for her gen- erous treatment, and seated myself in the carriage. I was so deeply immersed in my speculations that I no longer watched the scenes through which we passed, I was aroused by Morecombe. “ We are almost there.” «What! atlast2?” I was thoughtfully recalled now. 177 comicbooks-co