Belle Rose: A Romance of the Cloak and Sword — page 118: what you’re looking at

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

106 A STEP TOWARD THE TOMB. leaped to his feet, uttering a terrible cry. At this cry, Madame de Chateaufort stopped, pale and mute; a pro- found terror was depicted upon her countenance. The eyes of the dying man and hers were fixed steadily upon each other. As he leaned toward her, the arms of the duchess moved in an agitated manner. Monsieur d’Assonville made three steps forward, raised his hands to heaven and fell. Belle-Rose rushed to him. He was dead. Madame de Chateaufort knelt down. The frightened gaze of Belle-Rose went from the dead body to Genevieve; a horrible thought chilled his heart, and his glance seemed to ask his sweet- heart to account for the death of his friend. ‘* Assassinated !’’ said he. ‘Oh! ’tis not 1 whoam responsible for it!’’ exclaimed Madame de Chateaufort. And with hands joined, bathed in tears, she tried to crawl upon her knees; but, overcome by fright, she sank down, and her head struck the carpet. Belle-Rose went out, tottering like a drunken man; a horrible thought trou- bled his soul. Passing through the court, the waiting wo- man, impatient at that long silence, questioned him as to what was taking place in the pavilion. ‘‘What was Madame de Chateaufort’s maiden name?”’ Belle-Rose asked her, in a choking voice. ‘‘Mademoiselle de La Noue,’’ replied Camille, and she entered the pavilion. CHAPTER XV. A STEP TOWARD THE TOMB. Camille, on entering the pavilion, found Madame de Chateaufort fainting near the dead body of Monsieur d’As- sonville, whom she recognized at the first glance. She un- derstood clearly then the question of Belle-Rose; but with- out stopping to calculate the import of it, she called, and some lackeys aided her to transport their mistress into her apartment. The events which had resulted from this catas- trophe had succeeded each other so suddenly that Madame de Chateaufort could not resist their impetuosity. This strong and energetic woman seemed overwhelmed by a single stroke. She remained for several hours rigid and cold; life was betrayed only by the tears which fell from her half-closed eyes and by the trembling of her face, where was reflected all the anguish of terror and despair. 5 a 2 ee i Fa comicboo [om —