Belle Rose: A Romance of the Cloak and Sword — page 117: what you’re looking at

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

THE AGONY. 105 to me, ‘I wish to be queen,’ I would have conquered a crown, sword or poniard in hand, I would have marched over the dead body of my king! This love was an abyss of joy and delight. A year, I was plunged therein; I came back mournful, wounded, bowed down. The evening be- fore I would have ridiculed the elect in their eternal fe- licity; the next day my heart was a hell! Mademoiselle de La Noue had married.”’ ‘*‘Mademoiselle de La Noue!’’ repeated Belle-Rose. ‘‘Have I named her?’’ exclaimed Monsieur d’Assonville. ‘‘For many years that terrible name has not passed my lips. Itis buried here asin atomb,’’ he added, pressing his breast with both hands; ‘“‘forget it—she had married, you understand, and yet she was a mother!”’ The sweat beaded upon Monsieur d’Assonville’s fore- head, and words came to his lips like a rattle. Belle-Rose listened to him, not certain but what delirium was infiu- encing his reason. ‘*Mother! do you hear? she was amother. Oh! my child! my God, my child!”’ Monsieur d’Assonville’s voice was stifled by sobs. Tears burst from the eyes of that man whom Belle-Rose had never seen weep. <A profound pity welled up in the heart of the soldier. **The monster !’’ said he. *‘One day the poor child was taken from me,’’ resumed the captain. ‘‘It could barely prattle, and never, no doubt, has it known my name.”’ ‘‘But what became of her?’’ said Belle-Rose. **She? Oh! she is rich, powerful, honored! She is a lady so proud and SO high-placed that the greatest lords bow at her name.’ *‘Oh! I will avenge you!’’ exclaimed Belle-Rose. **But I love her, and itis my child whom I wish!’ re- an plied Monsieur d’Assonville. 25 The captain was frightful to behold. His face was white * 1 as a shroud, and from his eyes there fell great tears of de- 3 spair; love and suffering gave to his physiognomy, already bearing the seal of death, a heart-rending and sublime expression. At this moment, the noise of a carriage rolling in the court troubled the profound silence. The carriage ___ stopped; Belle-Rose saw shining through the blinds the torches of the outriders; the rustling of a silk dress ached his ear, the door of the pavilion opened, and me de Chateaufort appeared-upon the threshold. eur d’Assonville turned his head, saw her, and CONNIE OO KS (EC)