Belle-Rose — page 302: what you’re looking at

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

‘THE ABBESS OF THE CONVENT OF ST. CLAIRE. 291 - “Tn faith!’ said Monsieur de Pomereux, when he was at the foot of the walls, ‘‘1 believe that our birds have found another nest. It is my opinion that it would be well for us now to seek another inn.’”’ But Monsieur de Charny passed straight before him and. struck at the door of the abbey with the handle of his sword. Monsieur de Pomereux stopped his horse and be- gan to caress it with his hand. **Vulcan will be foundered,’’ said he; ‘‘it is a thousand — crowns that I will make Monsieur de Louvois pay me.”’ Monsieur de Charny kept on striking. “Monsieur,’’ continued the count, ‘‘if you knock so hard, you will have to answer to the Bishop of Paris, who is very jealous of the rights of the church.’’ All this tumult at an advanced hour of the night had - drawn the abbey from its repose. “Open in the name of the king!’’ cried Nonsicin de ‘Charny. Meanwhile the abbess made her appearance. The fugi- tives had been introduced into a kind of parlor, where they were waiting, pursued by the threatening voice of Monsieur de Charny. When the door of the parlor opened, the abbess trembled and drew her vail around her face. ““Welcome, my sisters; and you, gentlemen, hope,’’ said. she. Her grave and sweet voice calmed their anguish; it ap- peared to Claudine that they no longer had anything to fear; she bowed over the abbess’ hand and kissed it. _ Belle-Rose felt his heart beat without being able to under- stand why. | “Say to that man who strikes at our door,’’ said the abbess, addressing herself to a sister,‘‘that the superior of the Abbey of St. Claire d’ Ennery will presently answer him herself.’’ The abbess withdrew, and the sister went out to execute her order. At the sister’s words, Monsieur de Charny threw a look of triumph at Monsieur de Pomereux and sheathed his sword. Monsieur de Pomereux looked at Monsieur de Charny, smiled and did not reply. ‘‘Come,’’ thought the count, ‘‘if he is silent, it is that he believes me lost.” A quarter of an hour passed in a profoud silence. Man. sieur de Charny went and came, somber and threatening, - before the great door of the abbey. Monsieur de Pomereux stealthily examined the priming of his pistol (Cova alicel oveye) ¢s) (ee)