Belle-Rose — page 130: what you’re looking at

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

A WOMAN'S HAND. 119 and the sentinels presented arms. Flambeaux were lit, and the clerk read the judgment of the court-martial. ‘What is the hour set for execution?’’ asked Bolle-Rose, ‘To-morrow morning, at eleven o’clock.’’ ‘I will be ready, monsieur. ’ “Tf you are of our holy religion, does it please you to have a confessor?’’ ‘‘] was just going to ask you to procure me_.one.’’ The elerk made a sign to the provost, who went out and came back at the end of ten minutes with apriest. Every- body withdrew, and when the door was closed, Befle- Rose remained alone with the man of God. CHAPTER XVII. A WOMAN’S HAND. The next day at ten o’clock the provost entered the dun- geon. Belle-Rose was sleeping upon the pallet, after a night passed in pious exhortations, fatigue of body hay- ing triumphed over anguish of mind. The priest was pray- ing, kneeling under the image of Christ. The provost struck the condemned man upon the shoulder. “Stand, sergeant,’’.said he, *‘the hour has come.”’ Belle-Rose obeyed. at once. The priest advanced to- ward him. ‘““My father, pardon me my faults,’’ the soldier said ig him, falling upon his knees. | The priest raised his hands to heaven. “Condemned by men, I absolve you before God,’’ said he; ‘‘you have suffered, go in peace.”’ : And with his finger he traced the sign of the cross upon the prisoner’s forehead. ‘Then the priest and soldier em- braced each other. Belle- Rose still wore the clothing given him by Madame de Chateaufort. He took off his justan- corps, and asked the provost to permit him to make a pres- ent of it to the jailer; as to the money which he carried in his belt, he turned it over to him for distribution among the soldiers who were serving as guards. “I except five louis,’’ said he, ‘‘which I give to the Fusileers; I owe them something for their trouble.’’ A lieutenant in full uniform appeared upon the threshold _ of the door. ‘3 ‘Sergeant Belle-Rose, forward!’’ said he. o Eomicbooks