Belle-Rose — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

‘Ree THE FALCONER’S SON. the stables of Monsieur de Malzonvilliers. He approached the horse, caressed its croup, unhitched it, and was get- ting ready to leap into the saddle, when the stranger softly placed a hand upon his shoulder. ‘‘Before leaving,’’ he said to him, ‘‘it is at least neces- sary for you to know where you are to go.’ ‘That is true,’’ replied Jacques, whose foot was already in the stirrup. Impatience to gallop upon sucha noble horse had made him forget the object of his trip. ‘“You doubtless know where the little village of Witter- nesse is situated?”’ ‘“Quite well—at a league, almost, to the right, in the direction of Aire.’’ ‘It is there you must go; now bear tiis well in mind: Before entering Witternesse you will see, to your left, a farm-house at the end of a rye field. It has four windows, and there is a weather-cock on the roof. You will give three knocks at the door; at the third one you will pro- — nounce in a loud voice the name of Bergame; a man will come out, and you will hand him this paper.’’ Upon which the unknown drew from his pocket a small portfolio, took a pencil, and began to write. ‘‘Do you know how to read?’’ he suddenly asked Jacques. ‘‘Yes, monsieur; quite well.”’ The stranger contracted his eyebrows; but this move- ment was so rapid that Jacques did not have time to take notice of it. For a moment the stranger turned the pencil between his fingers; then taking a sudden resolution, he rapidly wrote some words, tore out the leaf of paper, and presenting it to Jacques, fixed upon the child a searchin olance. J acques examined the paper. ‘IT read, but I do not understand,’’ said he. The stranger smiled. ‘It is not necessary for you to chek ’ he replied; ‘slip the paper in your pocket and mount your horse. | Good! Parbleau, my boy, youcarry yourself finely! If you make the trip in that fashion you will not serve as a fas- cine to some ditch. But, all the same, keep your eyes con- — stantly upon your animal’s ears. He is full of whims; but — when he intends to play a trick he is honest enough to ~ warn his rider by a certain movement of his ears, which the limbs of a great many people have caused them to recollect. Ah! you laugh. You will see, my boy.”’ him. As Jacques was about to start the stranger detained — Eomicbooks om