Belle Rose: A Romance of the Cloak and Sword — page 51: what you’re looking at

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

THE INTERIOR OF A BARRACK, 41 I know your soul is as firm as your arm is strong, I will speak to you likea man. You have nothing to gain in the light-horse. Were you the best-informed, the boldest, and the most intelligent soldier in the company, the slenderest younger son sent from Paris by the court would pass over you. Neither would you gain anything at Paris. Witha conscience tempered like steel, one never arrives at any- thing—unless to be duke and peer at the most. Remain a soldier—soldiers can preserve their honor pure—but enter the artillery. There alone a man who has valor, deportment, and some knowledge can push himself, even though he is not a gentleman. You have youth and a turn which is worth something. God will do the rest; there are a thousand accidents between you and the object, but Suzanne is at the end of the road! I have a brother who commands a company of sappersat Laon. Iwill give you a letter to him. Heis my exact counterpart. Guillaume Grinedal’s son will not leave the family.”’ Jacques took Monsieur d’Assonville’s hands and kissed them without being able to speak. The nextday, carrying ina purs3 the fifteen gold louis which the captain had given him, and mounted upon a good and well-equipped horse, he left the abbey. ‘*Here is the letter,’’ Monsieur d’Assonville said to him; ‘if you experience some regret to quit me, I experience as much to lose you, but it is necessary for you to arrive at Malzonvilliers, and the shortest way passes through Laon. Go then to Laon. If ever you have need of me, you will find me. Adieu, my friend.’’ Jacques pressed the captain’s hand and set spurs to his horse so as not to let him see that his eyes were filled with tears. He already had the pride of a soldier. CHAPTER V. THE INTERIOR OF A BARRACK. Jacques arrived without hindrance at Laon. The first soldier whom he met pointed out to him the dwelling of Monsieur de Naucrais. No sooner than the captain recog- nized his brother’s handwriting he gave orders to have the traveler introduced. Monsieur de Naucrais was a large man, severe and nervous; his gray eyes, shaded by thick, _ brown lashes, separated at their meeting point by a deep COMME DOOKS (©)