Belle-Rose — page 137: what you’re looking at

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

Re A WOMAN’S HAND. ‘Lieutenant!’ exclaimed Belle-Rose and Cornelius at the same time; ‘‘to whom do you speak, captain?’’ ‘‘But to you, Belle-Rose; read for yourself.”’ And Monsieur de Naucrais extended to the young man a paper adorned with the arms of the king. ‘‘T found this commission among the papers sent me from Paris. It is regular, and you have ppeesbers 3 left but to obey. A licutenancy for me!’’ said Belle-Rose. “The minister does things well when he does them,’’ re- — sumed Monsieur de Naucrais; ‘‘pardon, promotion, and also a hundred louis for your outfit. Here is the order for them; the treasurer of the regiment will count them out to you to-morrow.’ Monsieur de Naucrais enjoyed thé surprise and emotion of Belle-Rose, whose gaze went from Cornelius to the cap- tain, and from the captain to the commission. “You will have the reversion of Monsieur de Villebrais, continued Monsieur de Naucrais, ‘‘of Monsieur de Ville: brais, whom the corps of officers dismisses from the bat- talion while waiting for him to render an account to God for his infamy.’”’ ‘‘Heaven grant that he may cross my path!’’ exclaimed Belle-Rose. ‘It is a quarrel of which I should take half,’’ said the captain, “‘if he was worthy of our hatred. But let time do its work. ‘I'he day which begins badly ends weli, Belle- Rose, and the good news comes in quick sucesssion. To- morrow we leave for the northern frontier. ’’ ‘*Does it mean war?”’ “It means war, and our battalion is attached to the- corps commanded by the Duc de Luxembourg. Heisa valiant warrior, and under his orders you will promptly find occasion to flush your maiden sword. Hold yourself in readiness; the trumpets will sound to-morrow at day- — break.’”’ _‘*Parbleu! Belle-Rose,’’ exclaimed Cornelius, when Mon- sieur de Naucrais had withdrawn to watch over the last preparations for departure, “‘fortune treats you like the coquette she is. After having sulked for an hour, she overwhelms you with favors,’ ‘‘T have as yet done nothing to earn them, but I hope the Spaniards will aid me to deserve them.’ ‘‘Now that your affairs are progressing nicely, will you permit me to recall mine to you?”’ ‘‘Yours, my dear Cornelius? but I know them as well as” ee comicbooks co