Belle-Rose — page 284: what you’re looking at

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

| An passing before the narrow room where the attendant ; . comicbooks A PONIARD THRUST. 273 Déroute, who was making his round in the convent gar- dens, stopped short. ‘Come! it is for to-morrow,’’ said he, and he went away philosophically to rejoin Jerome Patu. The next day Cornelius went to the convent; on this day - he was followed by a lackey carrying two beautiful silver chandeliers for the altar of St. Claire, for whom Mother — Evangélique had a special devotion. The present was wel- come, and Cornelius had time to converse with Claudine in the parlor. Claudine, quickly informed as to the new circumstances, charged herself with making them known to Suzanne and promised to follow blindly the instructions of Déroute. She profited by the novelty of the chandeliers — to obtain from the superior the permission to traverse the gardens in the moonlight, and so arranged it as to have a long conference with Suzanne. Toward noon Claudine met Deroute, who was walking along with a pruning-bill in his hand, mutilating the apricot trees. No one was any- where near them. ‘Be behind the willows at dusk, at the place where the wall makes a turn.’ “We will be there,’’ said Claudine. At nightfall Claudine and Suzanne threw themselves - upon their knees by an instinctive movement and raised their hands to God. It was the decisive hour, and they held themselves in readiness. The chapel bell rang, the steps of the nuns going to the evening devotions were heard, and soon the songs resounded. Great white clouds were extended like a scarf of gauze over the horizon, where floated the vailed moon. The windows of the chapel spark- led in the night, Suzanne feigned a headache to keep from going to the chapel, Claudine having recommended her to wait for her in her cell. Suzanne half opened her door and counted the minutes. At seven o’clock Claudine came out; the prayers filled with their pious murmurs the long cor- ridors of the convent; the attendant, who knew the order of the superior, let the young boarder pass, but Claudine had not made three steps when she returned. ‘“‘T have forgotten my cloak and am going to. look for it; will you, my sister, leave the door open?”’ said she. And like a bird she rushed down the somber hall. Her feet did not touch the floor, and nevertheless Su- _ zanne heard her and leaned her head out of her cell. “*Come!’’ said Claudine, and both descended the stair- way. (Ele)