Belle-Rose — page 64: what you’re looking at

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

‘‘Ves, monsieur. ’ ‘The captain etiod his desk: If the voice of Belle-Rose had appeared altered to him, the expression of his counte- nance had astonished him. “What is the matter with you?’’ he said to him. “I must leave for St. Omer.”’ To-day ?’’ ‘This moment. ’’ ‘‘And if I do not wish to give you this leave?’’ LOST ILLUSIONS. 53 “I would recommend my soul to God, my body to Mon- sieur a’ Assonville, and would afterward blow out my - brains.’ ‘*'lhere would perhaps be no great harm in that; it would be a task the less for my sapper.’ “Tam waiting, my captain,’’ said Belle-Rose. Monsieur de Naucrais eyed him a minute; he was a man who knew something about faces. The expression of the sergeant’s made him comprehend .that Belle-Rose had taken an irrevocable resolution, and that this resolution came from a violent shock. He loved the son of the old faleconer more than he permitted it to be seen, therefore he came to an immediate decision: ‘‘But what, then, is taking place at St. Omer?”’’ said he, “Mademoiselle de Malzonvilliers is to get married,’’ ~ “"Well! how does that concern you?”’ ‘*T love her.”’ ‘Ah! that is an excellent reason! Behind all the follies which men undertake, seek, and you find a woman. Come, Belle-Rose, what will you do at St. Omer?”’ ‘*T shall see her.’ ‘* And if she does not wish to receive you??’’ “Tt will happen as God wills.’’ | ‘This is frenzy! My brother and you Porineld have re- lated to me this story, but Thad forgotten it. A soldier’ Ms love is an autumn flower.’ Belle Rose looked at the clock ; this movement did not escape Monsieur de-Naucrais. “Eh! my boy, we have only been talking a quarter of an hour. What is that?” ‘It is an order.’ The captain approached the table; wrote some words on. a slip of paper, and signed. ‘““Go to the devil!’’ said he to Belle-Rose, giving him the aper. P But as Belle-Rose started to withdraw, he took his hand: “You are the son of old Guillaume, my friend; do not GOMIIEboOoOKS (Elo)