Belle Rose: A Romance of the Cloak and Sword — page 48: what you’re looking at

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

38 THE SKIRMISH. ardor, to the manly pride, to the bold impatience whose flame just now colored his handsome face, a sweet and melancholy smile had succeeded. Jacques felt himself at the same time touched and attracted by that mysterious sadness whose source must originate in the depth of the heart. He sat down and related the innocent story of his youth, of his love, and of his departure. Monsieur d’As- sonville listened to him; for a moment his eyes were moistened at the narrative of the innocent love of Jacques, but this moment was so brief that Jacques did not even see his humid eyeball shine. Monsieur d’Assonville car- ried his glass to his mouth. ‘‘T drink to your hopes,”’ said he. Jacques sighed. ‘It is the fortune of the poor!’’ he murmured. “If your sweetheart has an honest and sincere heart, keep them; but if she is weak like the reed or deceitful like the wind, boldly drive them from your mind. Betrayed hopes are like thorns which lacerate.’’ ‘*T hope because I believe,’’ replied Jacques. ‘“You are eighteen!’’ exclaimed Monsieur d’Assonville, and a flash of bitter irony passed over his eyes. Then, more softly, he resumed: ‘‘Believe, Jacques; belief is the perfume of life and the ornament of youth; woe to those who have not believed— they have not loved; they die without having lived.’’ Monsieur d’Assonville pressed both of Jacques’ hands; the reflection of an ill-extinguished passion illuminated his face, and he swallowed his glass at a draught. ‘‘Of what am I thinking?’’ he presently said; ‘‘it is a question of love and not of philosophy. Come, Jacques, what do you count on doing?”’ ‘*T have told you—to go to Parisand seek fortune, unless you consent to keep me with you.”’ ‘*We will see about that later, and I shall willingly con- sent if my company can be of service to you. But suppose for a moment that you have arrived at Paris—what will you do there?’’ ‘*Frankly, I do not know; I shall knock at every door.”’ ‘It is an excellent means to enter none. Have you some money?’’ ‘‘Yes, fifty livres which have been stolen from me, and which I hope to recover along with my valise.”’ ‘*And fifteen louis which I shall give you as your part of the booty.’’ **Eh? but that makes——”’ comicbhooks (E€(0)