Belle-Rose — page 62: what you’re looking at

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

——_- —-« LOs't ILLUSIONS. — rea famed M. d’Albergotti. He was a marquis, belonged to a family of. Italian origin which had held a considerable rank in Milan, and wore the cordon of St. Louis. M. d’Albergotti had traveled much ; his con- versation was interesting, his kindness tonehed me, and I experienced some sorrow When he quitted Malzonvilliers to go to Compiégne, where M. de J'ureune had summoned him. He had only left the even- ing before, when my father, taking me by the arm, drew me into the garden. You know that such is not his habit; as soon as he has an hour to spare, he shuts himself up in his room, and immediately one or two sheets of paper are covered with figures. Therefore I looked at him in astonishment; he began to laugh. “Oh! he said to me, ‘I have serious things to speak to you about.’ “This prelude increased my surprise, and without knowing why, I was afraid. “«{ have thought of marrying you to some one,’ continued my _ father ; ‘you have just seen your two suitors.’ _** *Vhe Comte de Pomereux and M, d’Albergotti! Iexclaimed more . ~ dead than alive. ' “You are right, my child.’ : ‘ believe that if my father had not sustained me, I should have allen. . *« “You are a little fool,’ he continued, making me sit down upon a bench. ‘Has marriage then something frightful for you? Ido not pretend, besides, to dictate your choice. You willchoose between the count and the marquis.’ “J was thunderstrnck and knew not w hat to reply. Some tears gushed from my eyes, and I concealed my head between my hands, My. father tapped the eround with the end of his cane. ** ‘Come, my daughter, be reasonable,’ he resumed ; ‘I love Jacques a oreat deal, and I am ready to prove it to him ; but, in conscience, you cannot marry him.’ a “J will not repeat to you all he said to bring me to his opinion; I _ heard nothing and saw nothing but you, who seemed to be standing in front of me. ~ € Lastly,’ he added in conclusion, ‘you will be a marquise or a countess, and that is a consolation.’ + | promised to wait for him! I exclaimed, suffocated by tears. ‘«<h! here is another folly ! replied my father, and thereupon he said to me many things which I did not comprehend at the time, but _ which have since returned to my memory, and which I will not relate to you at length. He spoke of our fortune and of the happiness | would enjoy in being rich and titled ; all this was said without malice and in the best faith in the world. When M. de Malzonvilliers left me I was like one stupefied. At the end of an hour my tronbled spirit had grown calm, and I promised myself to never marry any one but you. Toward evening, thoroughly resolved to follow my projeet, I went to your house to relate to Claudine what had taken place. It was is father who received me. What came over me, my friend, when heard him exhort me to forget you! I resisted ; then, taking my hands in his, and bowing his forehead loaded with white hair before © mine, he implored me to obey M. de Malzonvilliers; in the name of his own honor and also in the name of yours, Jacques! He did not wish the accusation to be brought against him of having tolerated our mu- GComicbooks:.Gco