Belle Rose: A Romance of the Cloak and Sword — page 177: what you’re looking at

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

THE CONFESSION OF A MAGDALEN. 163 Monsieur d’Assonville, and that at this interview our child was to assist.’’ ‘“You would have done this, Genevieve?’’ exclaimed Belle-Rose. “T was going to do it, whenI learned that Monsieur d’Assonville had charged an unknown person to represent him. This discovery made me indignant; I believed that he had revealed our secret, and I resolved to have by cunning, or force if need be, the papers which might com- promise me.’’ ‘Then you have suspected a gentleman so loyal as Mon- sieur d’Assonville?”’ ‘‘Alas! when one is accustomed to practice evil, one quickly forgets belief in the good. But,’’ Genevieve hastened to add, ‘‘in having you come to the pavilion, where I received you masked, my intention was only to oblige you to hand over to me the papers which stated the rights of Monsieur d’Assonville; sure then that he could not take my son from me, I would have given way to his affection. 1 was already tired of that adventurous life in which every distraction was tainted with poison. I saw you, you have saved me, you were young, valiant, gener- ous, and proud. You know how much I loved you at once. I saw through you as one sees through a limpid stream, and your valiant nature gave back to minea little of its youth and its freshness. Oh! why was I not a young girl then? I would have been worthy of you. Perhaps you would have loved me.’’ ‘‘Genevieve! Genevieve!’’ exclaimed Belle-Rose agitated by this outburst, ‘‘say, did I not love you?”’ At this cry a flash of joy illuminated the pale face of Genevieve. ‘‘You have loved me,’’ said she; ‘‘is it indeed true? Is it pity which causes you to say so, or is it the impulse of your heart? I have been loved! I have had my part of happiness, and you will not curse me, and you will have at times my name upon your lips! What must I do, say? Your will will be my law; speak, andI obey. But do not banish me from your recollection. Wherever I go, and whatever happens to me, permit me to carry away a word which consoles me and elevates me. Jacques, my friend, Se your hand! my God! your hand!”’ ia Jacques took Genevieve’s head between his hands and _.____ kissed her on the forehead. oo ‘You have loved, you have suffered! may God pardon you!’* said he. (E(0) micooo S (E(0) =)