Belle-Rose — page 164: what you’re looking at

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

GOOD AND EVIL. 153 and Claudine were tasting. Like those talismans which light fever in the heart of those who touch them, the rose" dropped by Suzanne had irritated his ardor. ‘‘Claudine,’’ said he, quite low, to his sister, ‘‘is Madame d’Albergotti here?’’ At this name, Claudine’s face grew melancholy. ““Yes,’’ said she. “Can I see her—speak to her?’’ ‘‘Brother, it is a bad thought; but it shall not be said that I refused you anything on the day you returned to me. Wait here.”’ And, lighter than a bird, Claudine flew toward the house. Cornelius, with a reserve natural to the people of his nation, had withdrawn to one side. Belle-Rose leaned against a tree and closed his eyes. Clandine returned in about five minutes. She was very pale and held a letter in her hand. On seeing this letter, Belle-Rose lost all hope. ‘*She does not wish it?’’ said he. : ‘‘Read,’’ replied Claudine, and tendering the letter to her brother, she turned aside her head in order to conceal a tear which moistened her eyes. Belle-Rose broke the seal and read. He saw as through a cloud. ‘‘T saw you nearly a quarter of an hour ago, my friend,” the letter said. ‘Iran to the door, drawn by an irresistible impulse; an un- known power has riveted me to the threshold. Since I met you on ° my way to the chapel, I have been like one mad. What prayers [ have addressed to God! All my strength has failed, and ’tis then your sister has come to tell me that you were expecting a word which should eall youto me! ‘This word, I will acknowledge, my friend, my mouth — has pronounced twenty times. And now I hesitate! Oh! -I do not even hesitate! No, my friend, you cannot, you must not see me again. You have the noise of war to aid you to forget ; I have nothing except prayers. Do you wish to take from me the only exile in which my soul can still take refuge? Make a step, come, and I am without defense, and when you leave me, happy to have seen me again, I shall die. SUZANNE,” On reading this Belle-Rose’s heart was broken; he pressed the letter to his lips and recoiled. ‘So frail of body and so strong of soul!’’ he murmured. Claudine passed her arms around her brother’s neck. ‘*Come,’’ she said to him, ‘‘come,”’’ As they were crossing the garden gate, a superior offieer presented himself before them. He was a man already old, but who appeared still more so on account of his GOmiEcboo <S (E(o)