Belle Rose: A Romance of the Cloak and Sword — page 89: what you’re looking at

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

A DAUGHTER OF EVE. 77 kept on increasing; each step drew them nearer to it. Soon, between the trunks of elms and birches, Belle-Rose distinguished the wavering outlines of a house, but at the same moment he saw, as ina dream, two black shadows pass and disappear behind some holly bushes. A little far- ther on the two shadows drew near the path. Dry twigs snapped under the pressure of invisible feet. Belle-Rose looked at his guide. He seemed to have seen and heard nothing. ‘The presence of this mysterious escort suddenly recailed to Belle-Rose the last words of Monsieur d’Asson- ville; he thrust his hand under his cloak; when he had as- sured himself that his poniard was still in its place, he seized the guide’s arm. ‘‘What do you want with me?”’ the latter asked. ‘‘Nothing.”’ ‘‘Why, then, do you take me by the arm?”’ **Tt is an idea of mine.’’ **And if it did not please me to suffer it?’’ - ‘‘T should be grieved, but you would have to submit to it. 9 ‘Do you know, Monsieur Belle-Rose, that if I called, we are not so far from the carriage that I could not be heard.”’ ‘‘T even believe that you would not have to call very loud in order to be heard.”’ The guide’s hand trembled in that of the sergeant. ‘‘But I warn you that at the least cry and the least effort to release yourself, I shall plant this poniard in your breast,’’ continued Belle-Rose. The guide saw the pale lightning of the steel shine at two inches from his face. He shivered. ‘“‘Supposing I do not wish to advance,’’ he rejoined. ‘*Then we should turn back; but as this new resolution would prove to me that I ought to remain in your com- pany I would ask you to turn back with me.’’ **You are mad! Do you fear then to be assassinated?’’ Te ‘Not at all. But my maxim is always todo things in + company with someone. You live more gayly thus; you ought to die less sadly, too.’’ The guide fixed his brilliant gaze upon Belle-Rose’s face, on which was painted that firm and calm resolution par- ticularly characteristic of him. _. “Go ahead!’ said the guide; and they continued to ad- __-yance toward the light. _ This light shone at a window—the only one open—in a species of hut lost in the depth of the woods. The guide knocked at a door which opened at once. Belle-Rose and x Eomichooksne