Belle Rose: A Romance of the Cloak and Sword — page 293: what you’re looking at

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

BY THE AID OF FIRE. 277 tord rubbed his hands and went to relate everything to Grippard. ‘‘T have them,’’ said he, in conclusion. That was also Grippard’s opinion, and he affected a great joy. ‘‘Good!’’ said he to Bouletord, ‘‘I am not pleased with my pistols, and as I intend not to miss the stroke this evening, I shall run to the company’s locksmith.’ But instead of running to the locksmith, he took his way to the Rue du Pot-de-Fer St. Sulpice; Cornelius and Belle-Rose were not there; Grippard ran to Déroute’s observatory; the two friends had left it in the morning. Grippard snatched outa handful of hair; but this panto- mime not aiding him to discover either the captain or the Irishman, he ran like a stag and took the road to the hostelry of the Roi David. He pushed open the door and found Cornelius. ‘* At last!’ said Grippard. ‘‘Be silent,’’ replied Cornelius; ‘‘I am expecting Chris- topher and his horses.’’ ‘That is what I wish to talk to you about.”’ Grippard drew Cornelius into one corner and related to him all that he knew of Bouletord’s plans. ‘*There will be a dozen armed men around the gardens,”’ said he; ‘‘at the least alarm, they have orders to fire.”’ ‘*Well,’’ said Belle-Rose, who had just come up, ‘‘I am going to recruit five or six determined rascals, and it will be a battle.”’ ‘‘Bless me!’’ replied Grippard, ‘‘dresses are not cuirasses; if the women receive the balls, that will be your affair.’’ Belle-Rose hit his fists. ‘*‘Come,’’ said he, ‘‘we shall act according to circum- stances. It is too late to warn Déroute.’’ Night came, oats were placed under the noses of the horses, and they quitted the hostelry of the Roi David. As Grippard had told them, there were archers all around the convent. Belle-Rose quivered with impatience. ‘* At least,’’ said he, ‘‘let us warn Déroute.’’ i 2 They advanced and gave the word, they were permitted ____ to pass and gained the wall. At the end of thirty steps, believing themselves alone, they stopped; Belle-Rose drew a silk ladder from his pocket; but, just as he was about to _ throw it over the wall, a man concealed in a recess of the wall, threw himself upon him. Belle-Rose seized his arm with one hand, and with the other planted his poniard _ in the man’s breast. The man fell without uttering a (E(0) =}