Mezzoni the Brigand — page 77: what you’re looking at

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

MEZZONI THE BRIGAND. 69 of countenance which the old woman observed set Beppo into a tremor. The old woman hobbled away, and finally disap- peared down the Strada St. Carlo, just opposite the famous theater of that name. Here she entered a house in which lodging-rooms were let, and soon after, if any person had been watching that door, — they might have seen issue from thence the person of the English detective, who at once made his way to the shop of Woolf & Co., where he was seen to enter into close conversation with the head of the establishment. ‘‘Are you at leisure?’’ ““Yes.”’ “Well, I want to ask you a few questions.” “Very good.”’ ‘‘Who is Alberto Corrello?’’ asked the detective. ‘‘He is of a noble but decayed family.” “Rich?” ‘Hardly that.’’ ‘“How does he live?”’ ‘SHow?’’ “T mean what supports him.’’ “Well, it would be hard to say.’’ “Good habits?’’ ‘‘On the contrary, very bad.’’ ‘‘Gambles, I suppose?’’ “That’s the trouble.’’ ‘‘Any stories about him?” ‘““Yes, there is one rather queer story about him as to his having a jar of gold in his basement, left by one of his ancestors. Out of this jar he is said to re- plenish his purse when it runs low,” said the Jew, with a smile of incredulity. (ele) Gcomicbooks