Belle Rose: A Romance of the Cloak and Sword — page 143: what you’re looking at

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

THE DUC DE LUXEMBOURG. 131 pleased? This double question troubled the understanding of poor Déroute; it was a puzzle which he could not solve. While his company was marching toward the northern frontier Belle-Rose hurried as much as possible the organi- zation of his recruits. He displayed so much activity that inafew days his squad was ready to leave, so that he reached the army before the opening of the campaign. The Army of Flanders was commanded by the Prince de Condé, who had under his orders the Duc de Luxembourg, the Duc d’Dumont, and other generals. The battalion of artillery of which Monsieur de Naucrais’ company formed a part belonged to the corps of Monsieur de Luxembourg, and was one of the first assembled upon the banks of the Sambre, at Charleroi. When Belle-Rose reached the camp, night had fallen. He made himself recognized by the sentinels, distributed his men, and, learning that Mon- sieur de Naucrais was absent on some affairs of the service, he entered the tent which had been prepared for him. Belle-Rose had just unbuckled his belt and thrown aside Lis coat, when Déroute made his appearance. The sergeant had a depressed countenance and a mournful look, but in the claro obscuro of the tent, his lieutenant did not at first perceive it. “Eh! ‘tis you, my poor Déroute? Yours is the first friendly face I have met here;so welcome. Are you well?”’ ‘*Passably, thanks. It would be a good thing if every one was as well as myself.”’ Belle-Rose approached Déroute and looked at him. It was only then that he was struck by the dejection of his countenance. **Speak ! what has happened?”’ he said to him. **A great misfortune—I do not know how to tell you——”’ ‘““Whom does it concern?’’ ‘Our ca ‘ oe “Monsieur de Naucrais! But I have just come from the a and was told that he was absent on some affair a emneceod with the service.”’ Fe oe ‘Apparently they did not yet know anything about it.”’ _ **And what do you know?’”’ Bes) # “Monsieur de Naucrais is in prison.”’ a “He has disobeyed the general’s orders.”’ on of discipline on the part of our captain! :possible you wise?” have seen him... Would I tell you so if =~ ‘comicbooks 1* ; em rie ‘ oe eM a hee lg! ¢ "rs ey ™ - f r + - 7 = *, ‘ed