Belle-Rose — page 241: what you’re looking at

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

j 930 THE CONVENT IN THE RUE DU CHERCHE-MIDI. inquietude, the return of Suzanne. The hours passed away, and Suzanne did not return. Toward noon, not having seen or heard anything, Claudine, no longer being able to contain herself, left the hotel and ran to Monsieur de Louvois’. By force of questioning the ushers who went and came in all directions, she learned that Madame d’AIl- bergotti had left in a carriage with a gentleman belonging to the retinue of Monsieur de Louvois. This news was not of a nature to diminish her fears. What did they wish to do with Suzanne? where had they taken her? The court was full-of all sorts of people going and coming, at every — minute a carriage left or arrived with_ great noise, the lackeys were playing dice while waiting for their masters; no one paid any attention to Claudine. The poor girl, overcome by weariness, finished by sitting down upon a little bench in a corner, where she began to weep. She was about to dry her eyes, something which she had done already for the tenth time, when she was drawn from her isolation by a voice which called her. Claudine raised her head and recognized Corporal Grippard. In her present state of agitation the kindly face of Grippard appeared to — her the best and most amiable face she had ever seen. “Oh! my God! !’’ said she, ‘‘it is heaven which sends you.’ “In faith, mademoiselle, I will go to burn a taper for the. saint which brings me this good fortune,’’ replied Grip- pard, with a military grace which on any other occasion would have made Claudine smile. ‘‘Monsieur Grippard,’’ said the young girl, “‘you must come to my aid; at first I did not know what was to be- come-of me.’ “Eh! my God! you say this to me with a singular air; what, then, has happened to you?”’ “You do not know, then? Suzanne has been carried off.*’ | ‘‘Suzanne!’’ repeated Grippard, with a surprised air. ‘“Yes; Madame d’Albergotti. ”’ “The lady who, with my friend Déroute, has employed herself to procure,my captain’s escape?’’ meV OS: 93 ‘‘And who the devil can have taken it into his head to commit this beautiful action?’’ ‘‘Monsieur de Louvois.”’ | “Oh!” said Grippard, with a frightened air. | _ “You are going to aid me to find her again?’” Rue du Cherche-Midi, Claudine was awaiting, in a mortal — ~ s Eomicbooks (ele)