Belle-Rose — page 262: what you’re looking at

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

AN ENGLISH HUSBAND, 3 O51 disdainful air. ‘‘Ah, come! what sort of a man is he, then?”’ i ‘*A man almost of my stature and my air, who handles the sword passably well, and who passes for a very honest soldier. ”’ “Ah! ah! and it is this gentleman who has made himself loved by Madame d’ Albergotti?”’ “She still loves him, then?” exclaimed Bellé- Rose. in a voice filled with emotion. ‘‘Does she love him? Say, rather, that she adores him. It is incredible that women should have suchideas. I who speak to you, a count, a relative of Monsieur de Louvois, and who will have a regiment some day, have Pe re- fused by Madame d’Albergotti.”’ “*Noble heart!’ said Belle-Rose, in a low tone. ‘Ah! you think so!’’ said Monsieur de Pomereux, who had heard him. ‘Well, faith! I have done like you—and what is stranger, it is that l haye come to esteem her much. Yes, upon my word. She has appeared to me so simple, so chaste in all things that I have fallen unre- servedly in love with her.”’ ‘*Ah, bah!’’ said Cornelius, who pressed Belle-Rose’s arm, ‘Faith, tis true, or almost so. The duse!.J am a gentle- man, and I do not wish her to die in a convent,.’’ “She shall not die ner ’ said Belle-Rose, in a deep | tone. “That is also my opinion,’’ said Monsieur de Pomereux; “unfortunately it is not the opinion of a certain Monsieur de Charny, to whom my precious cousin has committed the care of this affair.’ ‘‘Monsieur de Charny?’’ repeated Belle-Rose. ‘‘A certain rascal capable of everything, venomous as a viper, and tenacious as glue. When he is in conference with Monsieur de Louvois, lam always afraid for some one.”’ “But what harm has Madame d’Albergotti done him??’’ ‘Him? nothing; but Monsieur de Charny is a man who shares the hates of the minister as one does those of a mistress.’ : ‘*What a wretch!’’ said Cornelius. ‘‘He isa wretch such as is necessary, they say, to the viziers given us by the caprice of our gracious monarch; mute as the tomb, ready at any hour, impenetrable as night. Eh! messieurs! these scoundrels- have their uses. EOmiicbooks (EO)