Belle Rose: A Romance of the Cloak and Sword — page 147: what you’re looking at

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

WHEAT AND TARES. 135 ‘‘A beautiful action, monsieur.”’ “There is no beautiful action which infringes discipline. ”’ ‘The French flag was being burnt upon the king’s territory.’’ ‘There was an order of the day, monsieur. Had twenty flags been burnt and fifty villages sacked, it was the soldier’s duty not to budge!’’ ‘It is a fault redeemed by the victory.”’ ‘It is not a question of conquering but obeying. If the voice of generals is not recognized, what becomes of dis- cipline? and without discipline there is no army.’’ ‘‘It is the first time Monsieur de Naucrais has conquered without orders.’’ ‘*It will also be the last.”’ **Monseigneur!’’ ‘‘An example is necessary. Ina time when there come to us from the court a hundred young officers who are not accustomed to war, to tolerate one such great infraction of military laws would be to authorize thirty. Monsieur de Naucrais must die.”’ ‘*Pardon, monsieur le duc, listen to me.’’ ‘*Eh! monsieur, who are you, then, that you should ex- hibit so much persistence?’’ **Belle-Rose, lieutenant in the artillery corps.”’ **Belle-Rose! it is a singular name! Belle-Rose?’’ ‘The name has nothing to do with the affair.’’ ‘Quite right,’’ said the general, who could not refrain from smiling; ‘‘but are you his brother, his relative, his friend?’’ ‘*Monsieur le Naucrais is my captain.’’ ‘‘That means you will gain a pair of epaulettes.”’ “‘Oh! monseigneur!’’ said Belle-Rose, with an accent of reproach. ‘“‘Well, what? It is the custom in war; each for himself . and the bullets for all.’’ “But 99 “Enough! I have wished to hear you, monsieur, and to _ forget, for a moment, the severe breach of discipline com- mitted by you in forcing the sentry who defended my door; but this indulgence, which I hope you will not make me repent, is not a motive to. justify the pardoning of the fault of which Monsieur de Naucrais has rendered himself guilty. I have already told you; Monsieur de Naucrais will be ‘shot at daybreak to-morrow.”’ “No, monseigneur,’’ exclaimed Belle-Rose boldly, ‘‘no, (E(o) miGcdoo Ss (E()