Belle Rose: A Romance of the Cloak and Sword — page 255: what you’re looking at

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

THE RENUNCIATION. 239 ‘Not being the ward of any one, I have the right, I im- agine, to think of my own establishment. ”’ ‘Certainly, madame, and Monsieur de Louvois would regret to thwart your intentions; but still the care of the kingdom requires you to take a determination. ’’ “The care of the kingdom, monsieur—those are big words for so insignificant a person as myself!”’ ‘lhe enemies of the king utilize everything, madame. If you knew to what unjust attacks eminent men are ex- posed, vou would see all this affair under a different light, and would no longer accuse Monsieur de Louvois, who wishes you well. Butif you continue to refuse His Excel- lency’s good offices, he will be forced to take new measures which will assure at the same time your repose and that of the state.”’ ‘Tell monseigneur le ministre that Iam ready to suffer everything, but thatI am not ready to give way to any- thing.”’ ‘‘Madame,’’ replied Monseiur de Charny, saluting Madame d’Albergotti, who had already risen, ‘‘I shall have the honor to see you again in a month, and I shall pray God that your resolutions may be changed by that time.”’ At dawn the following day the bells of the convent in the Rue du Cherche-Midi rang a full peal. The ceremony of taking the vail was a religious solemnity quite frequent at the time when this story transpires, but which did not fail to attract a great crowd on each occasion. A great number of the ladies and gentlemen of the court were to be seen there, and on this day pomp replaced silence and profound meditation in the chapels and cloisters. When Mademoiselle de Mesle entered the chapel it was filled with a brilliant assemblage of people. A sad and soft murmur welcomed her; she was so beautiful that every one pitied her. She wore upon her blonde hair a crown of white flowers, pearls were attached to her neck and jewels to her arms, belt, and dress. She traversed the church with a firm step, accompanied by Mother Evangélique and another nun. Monsieur de Mesle and the members of his family followed her. When she had mounted the steps which separated the nave from the choir, the ceremony be- gan. The Archbishop of Paris officiated. Gabrielle knelt down upon a velvet cushion and prayed. The chapel was full of perfumes and flowers; the organ gave forth the sweet- ___ estairs; sisters concealed in a tribune mixed their celestial __-yoices with the accords of the instrument; it was a divine COMME IOC) Si: 3 Jy Oey: iret hy oka ne ty meas ee fk fas