Belle Rose: A Romance of the Cloak and Sword — page 288: what you’re looking at

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

272 A PONIARD THRUST. would fail in all that which I owe my lodgers if I did not warn them of what is taking place.’’ ‘‘What is taking place, then, my worthy Monsieur Méri- se$?’’ said Belle-Rose. ‘This is it: Some persons whose appearance I have thought suspicious are prowling around my house. I am certain that they are not watching me; from which I have concluded——”’ ‘That not prowling for you, they are prowling for us,’’ interrupted Cornelius. Monsieur Mériset bowed in sign of assent. ‘‘It is a logical reasoning,’’ continued Belle-Rose, ‘‘and which is not devoid of truth.”’ ‘That is why I have mounted to your room,”’ said the proprietor. ‘‘It is not very far from the Rue du Pot-de Fer St. Sulpice to the Bastile; therefore be on your guard——’’ ‘‘We are on our guard, my worthy host, and it is with the intention of avoiding a new disturbance with the men of the king that I ask you to render me a service.”’ ‘‘Speak, monsieur,’’ said Monsieur Mériset, bowing low. ‘‘Have you still that dear nephew who is your heir?’ said Belle-Rose. ‘*T have.’’ ! ‘*He is a boy who knows something of horses. I recollect the lively fashion in which he has galloped from Paris to Bethune. ”’ ‘‘Tt does not become me to praise my nephew, but it is certain that no one purchases a horse in the quarter with- out consulting him.’’ ‘‘Ask him, then, to procure me to-morrow four horses of good blood, having nerve and wind. Grippard here will take them to the place where they will be wanted. As to the price, I shall not stand upon it, and your nephew shall have ten louis for his trouble.”’ Monsieur Mériset promised and withdrew. Grippard slipped away to rejoin Bouletord; Cornelius and Belle-Rose leaped over the garden walls and gained the lodging va- cated by the sergeant. On turning the corner of the Rue du Pot-de-Fer St. Sulpice, they perceived in the corner of a porte cochére two disagreeable looking fellows, who im- mediately came forth. But at sight of the swords which shone in the moonlight, the rascals made off. ‘‘Monsieur Mériset was not deceived,’’ said Belle-Rose. Five minutes after three lights forming the points of a brilliant triangle shone at the window of the garret. Gomicboo Ss com q r x ie ir