Despard, the Spy: Or, The Fall of Montreal — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

A BTREE” ADVENTURE. 11 “ Mademoiselle D’Arigny,” said he, in the cold, even tone he had used throughout, “ you know that I am not demonstra- tive, and you will believe me when I say that I am glad to be of service to you.” “Thanks, Monsieur Despard,” replied the lady, in a low, musical voice, ‘‘ You have saved me from an unknown fate, one I tremble to think upon. TI shall never forget it, and he whom I love will remember it too.” “Tt is for his sake that I care for you,” said the man called Despard, for the first tine showing a touch cf feeling, ‘ But, this is not the time or place to speak of it. Are you in- jured ?” “ Not in the least, though I was seized somewhat roughly,” replied the lady. “If mademoiselle will excuse me,” said the sergeant who was with the guard at the time, “I must.ask her a fery ques- tions.” “Certainly. You only do your duty. I am ready to an- swer,” she replied. “Thanks. Then, in the first place, how did you find your- self in such o-situation ?” “ Easily enough. In passing down &t; James a little time ago, I was suddenly set upon by three men. I had only time to utter one cry, when IJ was nearly strangled.” “ Does mademoiselle infer that there is a man in Montreal ruffianly enough to seize a lady by the throat?” gasped the sergeant. “ IT found one,” was the reply. “A Frenchman; and he knew it was a woman ?” “Without doult. He spoke in a disguised voice, but his French was pure. There is no mistake in it.” “Tt is a disgrace to France,” said the soldier, drawing him- self up, proudly. ‘ And yet, can such a man disgrace a country like France? It can not be. If I find him, and do not give him my compliments, clothed in steel, may my right hand forget its cunning. Far better is the man known as the Silent Slayer, the Englishman who escaped from prison not long since. If he was an enemy, he was at least a brave man, and bore a heavenly blade.” Marie D'Arigny blushed. ‘She had a reason for knowing comicbooks (C@