Belle Rose: A Romance of the Cloak and Sword — page 119: what you’re looking at

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

A STEP TOWARD THE TOMB. 107 Madame de Chateaufort had arrived in the afternoon at her Paris hotel, and had only taken time to change her clothing before going in a fiacre to the house in the Rue Cassette. Monsieur d’Assonville had presented himself there the evening before and the same day. Madame de Chateaufort sent to his home and learned that he had gone out; but, upon being advised that he would probably re- turn during the evening, she asked the lackey to inform him that he was expected in the Rue Cassette. Unfortu- nately Monsieur d’Assonville having, on his part, gone to Madame de Chateaufort’s hotel, a few moments before the duchess’ arrival at Paris, he was informed by a valet that she intended to prolong her sojourn in the country. He decided immediately as to what he should do; he knew the park and its secret issues, the passages which led to the duchess’ apartments, and, thoroughly convinced by her silence that she was firmly decided to avoid every interview, he wished to penetrate to her room at night, even should he perish in the attempt. Just as Madame de Chateaufort entered Paris, Monsieur d’Assonville left it. When he perceived Ecouen, he stopped and waited for night, not wishing to present himself before the chateau gate, thinking that he would be refused admittance. When twilight came he gained the walls of the park, con- cealed himself in a thicket, and when darkness prevailed everywhere, he sought the secret door at the angle of the wall where, in happier times, the light feet of a woman had so often accompanied him. He found it open and ad- vanced rapidly through the park. But Monsieur de Ville- brais, who was seeking Belle-Rose, seeing aman coming down the avenue which led to the chateau, threw himself upon him, thinking that it was his rival. ‘‘Defend your- self, scoundrel!’’ he cried to him. Monsieur d’Assonville had scarcely time to draw his sword before a thrust pierced his breast; enfeebled by a recent wound, he could not oppose a long resistance to the attacks of his assassin, and fell just as Belle-Rose was coming to his aid. While these things were taking place at the chateau, Madame de _ Chiateaufort was waiting, filled with a feverish impa- By tience, in the house in the Rue Cassette. The hours suc- ceeded each other without Monsieur d’Assonville appear- ing. About midnight she again sent to the captain’s lodg- ings. News came back that Monsieur d’Assonville’s valet had returned after having quitted his master upon the ___—‘~‘route to St. Denis. Madame de Chateaufort did not say a word, but Camille understood to what anguish she was a Eomichboo S) (e(6)