Belle-Rose — page 260: what you’re looking at

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

——$——— =, AN ENGLISH HUSBAND. 249 the right or wrong, Now, being at Dover, waiting for a dispatch from our embassador at London, T came across one of these Englishwomen who would not have been out of place at the court of our great king. I was growing very weary, and; to pass away the time in a useful man- ner, I employed my mind to penetrate to the lady’s domicile.’’ “Always for the study which interested you?”’ said Cornelius. “Always, monsieur. I succeeded therein, and I was able to convince myself that the ladies of the good city of Dover know how to appreciate that little merit which I have acquired at the court of our glorious monarch. It was a discovery which was about to reconcile me to Eng- land, when the husband—for there is a husband, mes- sieurs——’’ | “There is always a husband,’’ observed Belle-Rose, whom the pleasant humor of Monsieur de Pomereux diverted. ‘Oftentimes there are even two of them; the known and’ the unknown, who is at times the cousin. Here there was only one, but he was doubled by two brothers and a brother-in-law. Ido not know who made to all of these relatives reports concerning the honesty of my relations with the lady, which were all for the love of science. The husband spread the rumor that he was going to leave for London; and while, confiding in his word, 1 went to intro- duce myself into the lady’s home, he attacked me with the aid of his relatives. Had it not been for you, mes- sieurs, I would have been left on the field.’’ “That would have been unfortunate for science,’’ said Cornelius, gravely. “Tt is a monstrous proceeding, monsieur!’’ exclaimed the count, with a comic indignation. ‘‘Itis one of those things which are not permitted in France. Ah! fie! to wish to kill a man because he pays court to your wife; but there is no security here for lovers. What! a man pretends to leave, even goes away, then returns by stealth, hides behind a wall, and when the lover comes tranquilly forth, all at once pounces upon him, storming and swearing, in order to massacre him. It is a savage, barbarous, Mussul- manic proceeding !”’ : “Tt really is,’’ observed Cornelius. ‘‘A well-informed husband would have extended a ladder to assist you in - climbing to his balcony.’’ EOomiIcbooks CO