Belle Rose: A Romance of the Cloak and Sword — page 174: what you’re looking at

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

160 THE CONFESSION OF A MAGDALEN. Gaston’s father. Monsieur de La Noue had been humili- ated in his pride as a soldier; the wound was incurable. My future grew more and more dark; I did not wish to think of it and dream of it constantly; I had hours of wild gayety and days of mournful despair. Grief consumed my heart. Meanwhile, the Court and Parliament had con- cluded their alliance, and my father informed me that he had resolved to marry me to a rich lord of the king’s party, and that I must hold myself in readiness. He told me this as he was about to leave. When I recovered from my surprise, Monsieur de La Noue was galloping a quarter of a leagueaway. Meanwhile, Monsieur d’Assonville in- formed me of his return, and the same night I saw him again in the little pavilion. On learning that I was going to be a mother, he exhibited a joy so keen that my tender- ness was reawakened. He kissed my hands and wept with intoxication at my knees. ‘Then you still love me?’ he said to me. ‘**VYes,’ I answered, and I meant it at the time. ***And during this long absence which duty has imposed upon me, has no one come to trouble your heart?’ he added. ‘**Whatdo you mean?’ I asked. ‘Have I not always been alone? For amoment I had with me a friend, a brother; he has always been kind, tender, affectionate; he consoled me, and he is dead.’ ‘**Will you pardon me, Genevieve?’ Gaston suddenly said to me. “T looked at him, frightened already at the sound of his voice. ‘¢«This friend—’tis I who killed him!’ said he. ‘‘T uttered a terrible cry at this avowal, and I jerked my hands away from those of Monsieur d’Assonville; it seemed to me that I saw blood upon them. ‘**Do not curse me, Genevieve,’ he said to me; ‘I loved you, I was jealous. WhenI came back from Italy, at the first inn at which I stopped in Ecouen, your name was pronounced along with that of Don Pedro. It was said that you loved each other. I became mad, and the first person whom I met in the park was he. We were young and both of us armed; you know the rest. I left without seeing you. Alas! I accused you, and you were a mother!’ ‘*He talked a long time, but I did not hear him. A con- fused noise filled my ears, my heart was wrenched and I fainted. WhenIcame to myself, a child was weeping at my side,”’ > (oy (2) Hi (E(©) (eo)