Belle Rose: A Romance of the Cloak and Sword — page 136: what you’re looking at

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

124 A WOMAN’S HAND. sons were gathered together. A door was in front of me, I was going straight on, when an usher intercepted me. ‘What do you desire?’ he said to me. At these words, I took a desperate resolution. ‘Can I not speak to His Ex- cellency the Minister?’ I said to the usher. ‘Monseigneur is busy; but you will enter in your turn; what name must I announce to His Excellency?’ ‘He does not know me.’ ‘You have then a letter of introduction?’ ‘I have nothing.’ ‘In that case it is impossible for me to introduce you to monsieur le ministre. Nevertheless——’ ‘Do not: insist, my instructions forbid it.’ At this point the door opened, a gentleman withdrew, another presented himself. The usher left me, and I was alone with my reflections. All those who were waiting entered one after the other, the hour passed, and despair took possession of me.’’ ‘*Poor Cornelius!’’ murmured Belle-Rose. ‘‘In my distress 1 was about to leave for St. Germain and throw myself at the feet of the king, when all at once a lady passes the door and takes her course toward the minister’s cabinet. The usher rises and bows respectfully. ‘Monsieur de Louvois?’ said the lady. ‘Monseigneur is busy.’ ‘Give him my name, I must speak to him at once.’ The usher disappeared. There are certain things which are a revelation. The accent and bearing of the lady make me understand her power. ‘Madame!’ I exclaimed, going to her, ‘deign to accord me a favor.’ ‘What is it?’ said she, turning around. For a moment I was dazzled. The lady’s glance was imperious, her lips haughty, her cheeks pale; but she was as beautiful as a fairy queen. ‘Madame,’ I re- plied, ‘it concerns a poor sergeant whc has deserted.’ Then she approaches and looks at me. ‘He has an old father, a young sister, and is just twenty.’ ‘His name,’ said she interrupting me. ‘Belle-Rose.’ The lady utters a cry and totters. I rush to her support, but already re- covered from her emotion, she extends her hand to me. ‘And you come to save him? You are a brave gentleman!’ It seemed to me that a tear dimmed the lady’s eye. ‘But it is quite natural,’ I said to her, ‘I love him, and I love his sister.’ ’’ Cornelius blushed and stopped himself brusquely like a horse who has just set foot on the border of a precipice. Belle-Rose raised his head. A soft smile lit up his face just now so somber. ‘‘At last we have that great secret. ’’ **Have I spoken? well, let it go; I will confirm it pres- ently; in the meantime, let me continue my story; I will =} (ey fh) rs ‘ (€(0) (e(e)