Belle Rose: A Romance of the Cloak and Sword — page 277: what you’re looking at

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

THE GARDENER’S NEPHEW. 26] ‘Quartermaster,’ I have said to him, ‘enroll me in your squad, and we will kill him together.’ Bouletord was much moved; he has pressed my hand, swearing upon his soul that I was a gallant man. I have signed an ugly paper which he has drawn from his pocket, and now I am one of the king’s archers. ”’ ‘*Kh! that is not so badly done!’’ exclaimed Déroute. ‘‘One sometimes knows the air without knowing the words,’’ replied Grippard, looking at himself in the smoky mirror which ornamented the cabaret. ‘‘It is a first success,’’ replied Déroute; ‘‘you are now master of the enemy’s secrets, and if I penetrate into the heart of the place, we are sure of succeeding.”’ ‘‘Then I entreat you to make haste.”’ ‘“What do you mean?’’ “It is known that Belle-Rose has left England; his presence at Paris is suspected. Monsieur de Charny has put the police on the lookout for him, and Bouletord has undertaken to watch the convent.’’ ‘Well, return to Bouletord; I shall go and talk this over with my captain and Cornelius. ”’ As he went along Déroute revolved a thousand projects for introducing himself into the convent garden; but it was in vain—he could think of nothing. It was in this frame of mind that he arrived in the Rue du Pot-de-Fer St. Sulpice, at the worthy Monsieur Mériset’s. ‘*Eh, friend! what is the matter now?’’ exclaimed Cor- nelius at sight of the sergeant who had the countenance of a philosopher short of philosophy. ‘The matter is if we do not carry the place by assault, it will be necessary to raise the siege.”’ And Déroute imparted to him the revelations of Grip- ard. ‘*You have spoken,’’ said Cornelius, ‘‘now read.’’ Déroute took the paper which Cornelius handed to him; it was a letter from Claudine containing these words: “IT have made the gardener talk; he is expecting his nephew, whose name is Ambrose Patu, and whom he has never seen; this nephew is a native of Beaugency. He is to come this evening by the coach and to descend at the hostelry of the Cheval Noir, Rue du Four St. Germain, presenting himself to-morrow morning at the convent, It seems to me that this news presents an excellent opportunity.” On reading this note, Déroute leaped with joy. *“‘I am in the gardens!’’ he exclaimed. **No; it is I who will go there,’’ replied Belle-Rose. GOmMmicbdoo 3