Belle-Rose — page 337: what you’re looking at

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

396 TO CONQUER OR DIE. last drop of your blood; I see over there my friend Dé- route, who is also of this opinion.”’ ‘*Certainly,’’ said the sergeant. ‘‘As to myself,’’ continued the count, “I am thoroughly resolved to not suffer Monsieur de Charny to assail the liberty of my guest.’’ ‘If I uttered a cry, my men would invade the hotel,”’ said the confidant. ‘‘Do so, IT have thirty lackeys armed to the teeth, and among them there are some who wear the livery of the Prince de Conde. ’ ‘‘Monsieur de Charny was silent. ‘*I see, monsieur, that you are convinced, like mynelt of the inefficiency of that means; let us seek another, then. An idea has just now struck me, and this is it.”’ All eyes were turned. toward Monsieur de Pomereux, who spoke as if he had been at the corner of his fire after supper. ‘The quarrel is between Belle-Rose and Monsieur de Charny,’’ continued he; ‘‘each of them has his sword; !et them draw it and fight. Déroute and I will serve as wit- nesses. ”’ ‘‘And what “will be the result of this duel with closed doors?’’ asked Monsieur de Charny, while Belle-Rose was drawing his sword from the scabbard. ‘“Parbleu! you ask me a pleasant question, my dear Monsieur de Charny. If Belle-Rose kills you, it is clear © that you will no longer prevent him from going where it seems good to him; “if, on the contrary, you kill him, it will make little differ ence after should you take him to the Bastile. ’’ ‘“Very well, Monsieur le Comte; but if, perchance, I re- fuse to ficht?”? | “Oh! then it would be more simple still! I would con- sider you as an adventurer who, after having stationed in the street, for I know not what bad purpose, a lot of bandits, has introduced himself, under a miserable pre- text, into my domicile, in order to carry on there an abominable espionage; consequently, 1 would have you seized by one of my men, and you would be wery quickly | bound. ’’ Monsieur de Charny understood from the count’s air that he was not jesting. He came, then, to an immediate decision, like a man who has some courage and whe knows how to risk his life when it is necessary. He slowly drew — his sword and put himself on guard, EComicbooks ’ “ * * ~ > ’ Cle et : _ : ay A "Sih * ~- 7 es5 7 ’ » Se 4 . a. 7 € * ag, >> ry ag