Belle-Rose — page 78: what you’re looking at

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

ts A HOUSE IN THE RUE CASSETTE. 67 Rose did hasten, but the woman jumped quickly into the carriage, the coachman whipped his horses, and the equip- age disappeared down the Rue Vangirard. Monsieur Mér- iset stamped, which with him denoted a violent annoy- ance. ‘‘Five minutes sooner, and you held her!’’ he exclaimed. ‘*It was she, then?”’ ‘ ‘No. 99 ‘*Who, then?’’ ». ‘*Another.”’ “Young, old, ugly, or pretty?”’ ‘*Perhaps one, perhaps the other. I do not know.’’ “SN evertheless you saw her.’ . ‘‘Not at all. She had a large black vail over her face.’” “What! you have seen. nothing?’’ “SN othing, save the foot.”’ ff Ah! }?? ‘The foot of a duchess!’’ ‘“Parbleu! But tell me Monsieur Mériset, had this duch- ess, like the marquise, a vexed air because she did not meet me?”’ ‘On the contrary. That is at least what I said to myself on seeing her jump into the carriage.”’ ‘That is just. She did not come, then, to speak to me?’’ ‘“Not altogether. She came to inquire.’’ ‘‘And what did you answer, Monsieur Mériset?’’ ‘*Ah! ah! Iam nota fool, though I look like one. I let her talk and said nothing.’’ “Quite sure?”’ : ‘‘As true as my house is an honest house. It was not be- cause she did not wish to tempt me, and this purse given me proves well enough with what intentions she had come.’ ‘Eh! what! you have accepted ite”’ ~ *T accepted it and was silent. A house has always need of repairs; but the repairs do not oblige me to speak. Vainly she tried to find out who you were, what you did, whence you came—lI have been as mute as this cap. You charmed me at the first sight, and there is nothing I would not do for you. Nevertheless, I must acknowledge that my discretion has perhaps less merit at bottom than in appearance. I have said nothing, ‘tis true, but I also knew nothing.” | ‘Il will not cavil about the fact, the intention suffices.’’ “Oh! the intention was excellent and will always be so.”’ Belle-Rose believed it his duty to reward this good in- GOMmicboo E(0) Si