Belle Rose: A Romance of the Cloak and Sword — page 148: what you’re looking at

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

136 WHEAT AND TARES. ‘‘And who, then, will prevent it?’’ ‘*Yourself,’’ ‘*Mie!’’ ‘*Yes, you!”’ ‘‘Monsieur Belle-Rose, take care!’’ said the duke, grow- ing pale. “Oh! I fear nothing for myself! The right defends me as your justice should defend Monsieur de Naucrais. One does not kill a brave officer because he has blood in his veins. ’’ ‘*Morbleu!’’ ‘*Kh! monseigneur, if you had been in his place, perhaps you would have done as much.”’ At this brusque repartee, the Duc de Luxembourg could not refrain from smiling. ‘*Agreed,’’ said he, ‘‘but if he were in mine, he would act like me!”’ Belle-Rose continued: ‘‘A band of pillagers insult the French flag, a captain of the king is there, and would not draw his sword to punish the insolent fellows! Butitis impossible! Fire devours a village, the odor of powder mounts to your head, a horse prances, a dig of the spur is quickly given, and you go, not so much because you wished to, but because you are a man. Then, what happens? The enemy turn round, you pursue them, you kill them right and left, you fall pell-mell upon a redoubt which is carried by assault, the white flag is planted upon the rampart, and you cry, ‘Vive le roi!’ you embrace your companions, and on re- turning, instead of a recompense, it is a musket-ball which is waiting for you. But you, monseigneur, who condemn ~* men so quickly and so well—your feats are known! You have crossed twenty rivers, massacred ten thousand Span- iards, taken thirty redoubts! This is what you would have done, peer of France though you are, and what I would have done—I who am only a poor lieutenant.’’ ‘‘Well, we would have both been shot,’’ said the general. Belle-Rose trembled. In his generous ardor, he had for a moment forgotten the rank of the man to whom he was speaking. At these words, his youthful zeal calmed down, as does the boiling water of a vase when a cold stream is poured upon it. ‘‘You have pleaded well Monsieur de Naucrais’ cause,’’ added Monsieur de Luxembourg, with dignity; ‘‘audacity is not unbecoming to youth, and that which you have just shown honors you and at the same time gives mea high comicbooks.com — Deeg