Belle-Rose — page 196: what you’re looking at

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

A DIPLOMATIC MISSION. 185 animated as he spoke. ‘‘And besides, there is no one else that I know to whom I can confide this mission. ’ “T shall go.’ . “You will. stop at Chantilly, where the prince’s inten- dant will hand you a hundred thousand livres on the presentation of this order. You will afterward go to see Bergame, who lives in the direction of Palaiseau, in a house which I have given him.’ ‘“Ah!’’ said Belle-Rose, with disgust. ‘The house is to the right at a hundred steps from the road, before entering the village. Anybody you meet can point it out to you. Bergame does not yet suspect that I am acquainted with his perfidy. All the papers are at his home, in a certain closet which I know well, and in which I have concealed myself more than once in the time of the Fronde. A man who is employed by Monsieur de Louvois | has learned of this bargain, he has recollected that he owed me everything, and has warned me.’’ ‘“Those are the papers you wish. Ss ‘“By cunning or main force—it matters not which—you must get possession of them.’’ —. ‘‘Oh! he is an old man!’ said Belle-Rose. “Eh, morbleu!’’ exclaimed Monsieur de Luxembourg, ‘‘the old wolves have the longest teeth. Besides, it is not a question of killing him; you pay the price of the treason and take the papers. Do you know that it concerns the lives of twenty persons?”’ “Tt is well! I will have these papers.”’ “Then you leave to-morrow.”’ ‘“‘T will leave to-night. ”’ i Se ‘‘Go, and may God guide you! A first time you have perhaps saved my life, a second time you save my honor. What can I do for you, Grinedal?”’ “You will let me participate in a battle.’’ CHAPTER XX VI. A DIPLOMATIC MISSION. An hour after this conversation Belle-Rose left, accom- panied by Déroute. Monsieur de Naucrais had taken Pierre under his charge and proposed to push his military educa- tion. In order that Belle-Rose’s absence might not be interpreted in an unfavorable manner, he had apparently Gomicboo “S (E(@)