Belle-Rose — page 233: what you’re looking at

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

292 | THE DARK SIDE OF THE PICTURE. | “Monsieur de Louvois is not precisely tender on gach occasions. ’ 7 ‘‘Let us admit that he is not at all so.’’ “I willingly agree with you, and it is precisely that which disturbs me. You must keep out of prison, madame. ’’ , ‘*T agree with what you say, but that is not the senti- ment of Monsieur de Louvois.’ ‘So it appears, and unfortunately. ionuoue de Louvois is very obstinate. But, madame, you are not alone in the world, you have——’’ at ‘“‘l am a widow, monsieur,’’ said Suzanne. ‘ ‘‘A widow!’ exclaimed Monsieur de Pomereux. ‘Faith, madame, it is your fault if you are one. But,’’ he hastened to add, on seeing Suzanne making ready to reply, ‘‘I have~ no rancor, and Il place all the credit I possess at your dis- posal. ’’ Madame d’Albergotti was going to reply when an usher entered to inform Monsieur de Pomereux that Monseiur de ; Louvois was expecting him in his cabinet. Monsieur de Louvois was signing some papers when Monsieur de Pom- ereux entered. Monsieur de Charny had just left. “Sit down,’’ the minister said to him; ‘I have chosen you for an important mission, and you must leave at once.’ ‘Tt accept the mission and will leave when you wish.’’ ‘That is how I like to hear you talk.’’ “But you will permit me to say a few words togyou about an affair which concerns a lady in whom I am much interested. ”’ “*Her name, if you please?’’ “The Marquise d”Albergotti.’’ *“*Do you know what she has done?’’ ‘“ Perfectly.’ _ And you have the audacity to interest yourself in her?’” ‘‘Parbleu! I have come near marrying her.’ Monsieur de Louvois could not keep from laughing. ‘That is a fine reason!’’ he exclaimed. “Only her consent was necessary for her to become my wife.’’ ‘‘It would have been so much the worse for you.’ ‘Why ie PBecausé if she had been your wife, I hardly know what you would have been.”’ é ‘Hey! }?? ‘comicbooks.co