Belle Rose: A Romance of the Cloak and Sword — page 114: what you’re looking at

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

102 THE AGONY. ‘‘T had seen you, my friend,’’ said Monsieur d’Asson- ville, in very low tones, ‘‘but 1 thought I was dreaming. At least I shall not die alone!”’ ‘*But you will not die, captain!’’ exclaimed the soldier. ‘‘Bah! better to-day than to-morrow; the worstis over.’’ Monsieur d’Assonville collected his strength and suc- ceeded in slightly raising himself; his cheeks and his lips became purple. The surgeon who had arrived observed him in silence. The man was beyond his power. ‘‘T have many things to say to you, my friend,’’ re- sumed the wounded man; ‘“‘itisa sort of confession; to aid me to finish it, give me something to drink; my tongue is parched and my breast on fire.”’ Belle-Rose turned to the surgeon. ‘*What must I give Monsieur d’Assonville?’’ he said to him. ‘“What he wishes, milk or whisky.’”’ Belle-Rose administered a cordial that was at hand. ‘*Lost!’’ he murmured, in a choking voice. ‘‘Minutes are worth days,’’ said the wounded man. ‘‘See to it that we are alone.”’ Belle-Rose made a sign of the hand, and each one went out. ‘‘Place yourself there,’’ said Monsieur d’Assonville, pointing out to him a fauteuil. ‘‘My voice is weak. I should not like to die before having told you all.’”’ ‘*Will you pardon me, my God!’ exclaimed Belle-Rose; *‘‘they have struck you, and it is I whom they sought.”’ ‘*You!’’ said Monsieur d’Assonville, astonished. ‘*Am I not a deserter?”’ ‘Bah! deserters are arrested, not assassinated. If some remorse pursues you, calm your conscience; I have recog- nized the enemy—it is I whom he was expecting.’’ ‘You saw him! His name, so that I may at least avenge you.’’ ‘‘Avenge me! and why? Perhaps it is a service which he has rendered me. He was masked; butin the heat of the action his mask fell. Ionly saw him a minute, and I recognized him. ‘Recollect Monsieur de Villebrais!’ he exclaimed, and fled.”’ ‘*Monsieur de Villebrais! It was I whom he sought, I tell you! Do you not know that I struck him?’’ said Belle- Rose. ‘*Does a quarrel of yesterday sharpen a sword like a hatred of ten years? I have seen the arm—he assassinated by order.”’