D'Artagnan, the King Maker — page 60: what you’re looking at

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

f The Petrel. 51 was of the race abhorred. She turned the backs of all the children of her brood toward him, made over them the sign of the cross, and the gesture against the evil eye on her own account. She hurried away, screwing up her rugged lineaments at having unwittingly condescended so greatly. Used to such humiliating homage, the son of Abraham simply shrugged his shoulders as if one straw more or less did not increase the load, lifted up his eyes in a questioning way, and rode his mule up to the cave in- dicated. He dismounted slowly, having stiffened limbs. Sub- mnissively he called out: ‘‘House, there! ho, house!” and, as no reply issued from the uninviting opening, he warily ventured his nose inside. The negress must have been aroused from a siesta, as she arose with a cannibal’s gape. She approached dazily, like a cloud detached from the smoke and gloom. The fire was nearly out; why cook when the appre- ciative D’Artagnan was not at home to enjoy her art? She did not recognize him with any warmth, at all events. * “I am seeking Senor Pedro Bitts,’ said he. “You know me? Elizor Soleiman, of Silves, in Algarve.” A glimpse of brightness did appear in her glassy eyes. “Tt is a time since we saw you!” said she. “Ts it the same time as he ‘has owed me for rent, and other matters?” “What?” cried she, blazing up so that from dead- black she became purple. ‘Do you demand rent when we have not a house over us?” Unfortunately, the money lender had recognized the furniture. “By the letter of the law,’ said he, sternly, “the busi- ness is still carried on, when the sign is not pulled down! That thas been decided in the High Court of Burgos.” “Burgos? (What do we care for your burghers here! Nobody but a madman or a Jew would assert such a claim upon the very ruins! And you, to flaunt the law! I should think you and your tribe had had all the law, church, state and local, that you wanted! ay, to boot! But do not you block up the doorway! with all those CORNICE OOOKS (€(0)