Belle-Rose — page 320: what you’re looking at

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

OVER HILLS AND ACROSS VALLEYS. $09 have found his hat upon my head without knowing how it came there, and while I was reflecting on this meta- morphosis, my feet have taken the direction of the stable where the honest fellow’s horse was quartered. I have let them alone, so that in a moment I saw myself in the sad- dle; the horse has left all alone; I have thought that it was Providence which wished it thus, and this is how I have galloped to Mantes. ’ In proportion as Déroute’s narrative advanced, Belle- Rose’s anger, which, to tell the truth, was not very great, disappeared. ‘‘And the groom?’’ he asked. *“‘Oh! he sleeps beside the coachman,”’ Suzanne had found Belle-Rose’s letter. It contained only afew words. Belle-Rose informed her that a duty, whose accomplishment could not be any longer delayed, called him some ten or twelve leagues from the abbey. ‘‘Rear nothing,’’ he said to her, in conclusion, ‘‘I run no danger; our love protects me, and you will see me back in three or four days.’’ Suzanne communicated this letter ib Cornelius, who could not give her any kind of explanation as to the motive for this absence. Cornelius only regretted that he had not been warned. ‘‘ At least,’’ said he, uy should have gone with him.’ ‘An hour after, they perceived Déroute’s absence. Suzanne thanked the sergeant in the depth of her heart and waited patiently. Belle-Rose and Déroute abandoned the episcopal palace during the night, changed clothing, procured horses, and left Mantes at day break, ‘“Now that [am of the expedition,’’ said Déroute, ‘‘you will at least tell me where we are going?’’ “We are going to a neighborhood which is three or "four leagues from Rambouillet.’’ ‘How do you name this neighborhood?’’ ‘**Rochefort. ”’ “A pretty nook of ground surrounded by woods and meadows; where there are no trees there is grass; the chickens there are excellent, the girls not ferocious, and the wine not too bad.’’ ‘““You know Rochefort?’’ **| have gone there on a recruiting expedition, some five or Six years ago.’ ‘*So that you -have preserved at the same time the mem- ory of the heart and of the stomach.”’ ‘*What recollections shall I carry away this time?”? Eomicbooks —_ (( 0)