Belle-Rose — page 88: what you’re looking at

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

A DAUGHTER OF EVE. ; BEM i kept on increasing; each step drew them nearer to it. Soon, between the trunks of elms and birches, Belle-Rose distinguished the wavering outlines of a house, but at the same moment he saw, as ina dream, tio black shadows pass and disappear behind some holly bushes. A little far- ther on the two shadows drew near the path. Dry twigs _ snapped under the pressure of invisible feet. Belle-Rose looked at his guide. He seemed to have seen and heard nothing. ‘I'he presence of this mysterious escort suddenty recalled to Belle-Rose the last words of Monsieur d’Asson- ville; he thrust his hand under his cloak; when he had as-~ sured himself that his poniard was still in its place, he seized the guide’s arm. “What do you want with me?’’ the latter asked. **Nothing.”’ “Why, then, do you take me by the arm?”’ ‘It is an idea of mine.”’ ‘* And if it did not please me to suffer it?’’ **T should be grieved, but you would have to submit to it.”’ ~ ‘‘Do you know, Monsieur Belle-Rose, that if I called, we are not so far from the carriage that I could not be heard.”’ “‘T even believe that you would not have to call very — joud in = BS to be heard. The guide’s hand trembled in that of the sergeant. 3 **But I warn you that at the least cry and the least effort to release yourself, I shall plant this poniard in your breast,’’ continued Belle-Rose. The guide saw the pale lightning of the steel shine at two inches from his face. He shivered. “Supposing I do not wish to advance,’’ he rejoined. “Then we should turn back; but as this new resolution would prove to me that I ought to remain in your com- pany I would ask you to turn back with me.”’ **You are mad! Do you fear then to be assassinated?”’ ‘Not at all. But my maxim is always todo things in company with some one. You live more gayly thus; you ought to die less sadly, too.’ The guide fixed his brilliant gaze upon Belle-Rose’s face, on which was painted that firm and calm resolution par- ticularly characteristic of him. ‘‘Go ahead!’’ said the guide; and they continued to ad- - vance toward the light. This light shone at a window—the only one , open—in a - gpecies of hut lost in the depth of the woods. The guide knocked at a door which opened at once. Belle-Rose and - (E(oy pallicel oveye)| <j ee) L + ‘ 4 ' _/ _ 7; af Be tor ¢ »*« * ) md “ *¢ . > . age get. ba ae “Se 7 a - “w ><> oa ye ei em : > - , a * ~~ ® ‘, 7 1 Le Sater Le ~~. oe OF ¢ *. ee "eq pe = ¢