Belle-Rose — page 166: what you’re looking at

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

THE CONFESSION UF A MAGDALEN. 155 ‘made his way toa ravine near the camp, where he estab- lished himself for the night. He wished to be ready to profit by circumstances. About nine o’clock, Belle-Rose had separated from his father, to whom Claudine had -offered lodging in Madame d’Albergotti’s house, and made his way back to his quarters. Déroute, who, in spite of his grade, had constituted himself the lieutenant’s regular guard, was promenading before the tent. ‘‘My lieutenant,’’ said he to Belle-Rose, ‘‘were you expecting some one this evening?’’ é ‘No. +? ‘Then some one was undoubtedly expecting you.’”’ ‘*What do you mean?’’ HS “It is very simple. A young man came an hour ago to inquire if you were at home. Upon my negative reply, he asked me if he could wait for you here. ‘It is an affair of importance,’ he added.”’ . ‘And how did you answer him?”’’ ‘That he was perfectly at liberty to wait for you till to- morrow, if it so pleased him. I had no sooner finished ~ than he was already in your tent.’’ ‘‘In my tent?”’ ‘*Where he still is.”’ Belle-Rose pushed aside the canvas which closed_the entrance. At the noise of his arrival the young man, who was seated upon a chest, arose. It was Genevieve de Chateaufort. CHAPTER XXII. THE CONFESSION OF A MAGDALEN, At sight of the duchess, Belle-Rose leaned toward the opening. | ‘*Déroute,’’ said he, “stay here, and no matter who comes, do not let them enter.’ “Well!” said the sergeant, and he sat down in the moonlight upon the trunk of a tree, his pike between his knees. _ When the curtain had fallen back, Belle-Rose advanced to Madame de Chateaufort, who was trembling all over. ‘*‘What do you come to do here, madame, and what do you wish with me?’’ he said to her, in a voice which he tried to render firm and which trembled. “I come,’’ said she, “like a culprit before his judge. 39° Eomicbooks (El)