Belle-Rose — page 84: what you’re looking at

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

ee a ee gee A See ae fot be! PRS Se Poss A FRIEND AND AN- ENEMY. 73° “Not yet!’ exclaimed some one near by, and at, the same moment an unknown man made his appearance. He was a handsome young fellow, with a firm and ean- did expression of countenance. His costume, void of rib- bons and embroidery, gave him the appearance of a stu-— dent, but he had the bearing and the sword of a gentle- man. ‘‘What did you say?’’ interposed Monsieur de Villebrais, ‘and in what are you mixing?”’ ‘I said what I wished, and I mix in the affairs of others when it pleases me,”’ the unknown eravely replied. Upon a gesture from the lieutenant, the coachman, who was hesitating since the unexpected intervention of the cavalier, advanced toward Claudine. He had not made two steps when the hand of the unknown was placed upon his shoulder. ‘““‘Listen,’’ he said to him. _“‘This gentleman has prom- ised you ten louis to carry mademoiselle to the Porcherons. I promise you a hundred stripes across your back if you do not take her to yonder farm-house; but I will join my invitation to that of monsieur to ask you to aid her to mount the fiacre. Do you understand?”’ ‘‘Quite well,’’ said the coachman, who felt, from the manner in which the cavalier’s hand was placed upon his shoulder, that there was no objection to make to a man so full of eloquence and vigor. A new conviction had just penetrated his mind, and like a zealous neophyte he ran to open the portiére, wishing, by his zeal, to demonstrate the warmth of his conversion. ‘““Kinter, mademoiselle,’’ said the unknown, presenting his hand to Claudine; *‘I answer to you for the good senti- ments of this honest coachman. Am I right, friend?’’ **You do me too much honor,’’ replied the coachman, _ who rubbed his shoulder as he closed the portiere. The intervention of the stranger had been so rapid, ac- tion had so promptly followed words, that Monsieur de Villebrais and Belle-Rose had remained mute specta- tors of this scene. But when Claudine sat down in the fiacre, Monsieur de Villebrais felt all his anger blaze up again. He rushed upon Belle-Rose, sword in hand, and made such afurious thrust that it would have pierced him - through and through, if Belle-Rose, at the noise of his steps, had not thrown himself to one side. The blade ripped the sergeant’s clothes and glided along his shoul- der; but thanks to the quickness of his MaveMEnt, the | flesh was untouched. EOMmichboo (a(0) cS