Belle-Rose — page 134: what you’re looking at

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

A WOMAN'S HAND, | 123 ‘Presently will be time enough. if you consent at once, ~I should be too much your debtor. Besides you only owe me the half of the debt of which you just now spoke.”’ “Only the half?”’ “Eh! undoubtedly! That parchment which saved you from the balls I brought, but did not obtain.’’ | “What! it is not you——" “Kh! my God, no. ‘But who, then?” “Parbleu! some one tins seems to love you madly.”’ Belle-Rose blushed. ‘“You understand,’’ continued Cornelius. ‘‘No, really, Iam seeking——’’ “Tf you seek, ’tis that you have found. fs it necessary 99 to name to you madame—— ‘‘Marquise d’Albergotti.’’ ‘*‘No—the Duchess de Chateaufort.”’ At this name Belle-Rose trembled. ‘‘Had it not been for her, you would now be dead !’* con- tinued Cornelius. ‘*‘What eratitude do you not cwe her? How much she has done to save you!’? The name of Madame de.Chateautort had agitated Belle- | Rose’s mind. He bowed his head and remained silent. ‘It is a curious story,’’ said Cornelius. ‘‘Where men are powerless, women succeed. I know of no better pass-key > than a woman’s white hand; it opens at the same time consciences and locks. When your letter reached Paris, where I remained -without well knowing why,’’ continued the Irishman, blushing a little, ‘‘it plunged me into a creat embarassment. What to do and where to go? I be- gan by running to the country to see your sister, Made- moiselle Claudine——’’ ‘Ah!’ said Belle-Rose, who did not fail to ceraek the. _gentleman’s emotion on pronouncing this name. “Yes; she is a young lady who has more sense than her gay eyes and sly smile wouldindicate. I expected good ad- vice from her and found her in tears; she had, like my- self, received a note in which you revealed your intention of presenting yourself before the court-martial at Cam- ~ -brai. She would have addressed herself to Madame d’Al- bergotti; unfortunately this lady’s husband was at Com- piegne, and you would have had ten chanees to be shot before his intervention could be of any service. Not know- | ing what-to decide upon, I took at hazard the way to Mon- sieur de Louvois’ hotel. I passed under the porte cochere, I mounted a stair-way, and entered a hall where several per- cComicbooks (eo)