Belle Rose: A Romance of the Cloak and Sword — page 127: what you’re looking at

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

THE EVE OF THE LAST DAY, 115 punishing him, you will prevent my poor comrade from destroying himself. Déroute counts on assisting me to escape to-night. I have vainly attempted to dissuade him, he persists, and exposes him- self to be shot to save me. Ino longer cling to life, and whatever he may do,I am resolved to submit to my fate, but I do not wish to make him share it. Heis an honest man, whom I should regret much to see die. Protect him against himself. BELLE-Rosk.” Monsieur de Naucrais crumpled up the letter. ‘Say to Belle-Rose that I will do what he asks,’’ said he to the sapper, who left the room. ‘‘He has a true soldier’s heart!’’ exclaimed Monsieur de Naucrais, when he was alone; ‘‘my brother and he, one after the other. Only the good die.’”’ And the captain, exasperated, broke with his fist a little table against which he was leaning. An hour after the sapper’s return, Belle-Rose saw Cor- poral Déroute enter his prison. The poor corporal wore a frightened countenance. ‘*We are betrayed!’’ said he, falling upon a chair. ‘*Really!’’ replied Belle-Rose, affecting a great surprise. ‘*The captain has learned everything. Some mischiev- ous artilleryman must have heard us. I was swallowing my soup when a cannoneer came on the part of the captain to order me to instantly appear before him. I go. Scarcely are we alone, when Monsieur de Naucrais makes me a sign to approach. ‘I know all,’ hesaidtome. At these words I grow troubled and stammer areply of which I under- stood nothing myself. ‘Peace,’ he continues. ‘I have no proofs, you will not appear then before a council of war; but to deprive you of any desire to begin again, I send you to the lock-up. You will remain therethree days. If you were not a good soldier, I would make you taste the sprouts. Take this and march.’ I leave thoroughly stupe- fied and find outside three cannoneers who bring me back here. During the route, I examine what the captain had placed in my hand. It was a purse, in which I have counted a dozen louis. The lock-up and gold, all at the same time—I did not understand it. The sergeant who has replaced me in command of the post has permitted me to enter a moment. What an adventure!’’ **You need not grieve—we would not have succeeded.’’ ‘**Bah! the night is black, and we have good legs.”’ _ **T prefer to see you in prison. You risked your life and _ Ido not cling to mine.”’ “This evening, it is. peasible ; but to-morrow! Hold, I (E(@) micooo S (E(o)