Belle Rose: A Romance of the Cloak and Sword — page 142: what you’re looking at

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

130 THE DUC DE LUXEMBOURG. of a corps of recruits which had just been brought to Cambrai. ‘**T will precede you at the head of my old soldiers,’’ the captain said to him, ‘‘You will rejoin me at Char leroi, and the sooner the better.” Belle-Rose would have preferred to leave at once, but it was necessary to obey; the mission with which he was charged was besides a proof of confidence; he resigned himself and saw leave at the same hour Cornelius and Monsieur de Naucrais, the former for St. Omer and the latter for Charleroi. The reader will readily divine that Corporal Déroute had not been the last to compliment Belle-Rose upon his new grade. ‘*‘T no longer think of the epaulettes,’’ had said the poor corporal, ‘‘the only thing to which I aspire at present is to be under your orders. If you permit me to no longer quit you, I shall be the happiest of men.”’ ‘“‘We will look after that when we reach the army. Monsieur de Naucrais will certainly grant me this authori- zation, which will give me as much pleasure as yourself.”’ After this assurance, Déroute, full of joy, took his way to the ramparts, where the company was drawn up in line. As he started to take his place in the ranks, Mon- sieur de Naucrais called him: ‘*Eh, rascal! where are you running to?”’ **T am running to my soldiers. I have lost a little time, but I will repay you by pike thrusts in the stomachs of the Spaniards. ’”’ ‘*You speak of pikes; what have you done with your halberd?’’ ‘“My halberd?” repeated the stupefied corporal. ‘*Parbleu, I express myself in French, Iimagine! You have not been told that you were a sergeant, or perhaps you have forgotten it?’’ **T! a sergeant!”’ ‘*You have been one for three hours.”’ **T have only been out of the lock-up for an hour.”’ **And you will go there again if you do not quickly don | the insignia of your grade.”’ Déroute, thoroughly stupefied, saluted the captain and went away. He was very much perplexed over the motives which prompted his promotion. If he had deserved to be punished, why had he been given the halberd before the expiation of his penalty? Butif his conduct, on the con- trary, called for a reward, why had they begun by im- prisoning him? Again, was the captain pleased or dis- comicbooks.com ong ae