Belle Rose: A Romance of the Cloak and Sword — page 170: what you’re looking at

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

156 , THE CONFESSION OF A MAGDALEN. Oh!’’ she said, at the gesture of Belle-Rose, ‘‘do not re- pulse me; if your heart has condemned me, at least hear me.’’ ‘And what have you to tell me that I do not already know, madame?’’ “The whole truth; I will speak to you as a penitent speaks at the confessional of God. In pity listen tome. It is no longer in the name of your love that I call upon you; it is in the name of justice. Have not the condemned the right to defend themselves?’’ Genevieve trembled so strongly that she had to lean against one of the pickets of the tent to keep from falling. The disorder and grief of this woman, once so proud, touched Belle-Rose. ‘‘Speak, then,’’ said he. ‘‘I also have a mission to dis- charge with regard to you, andI will take this oppor- tunity to discharge it.’’ ‘First listen to me, and kill me afterward, if it is your will,’’ said Genevieve. “Take care, madame, it is not a vain threat on my part. You havea terrible account to render, perhaps you are going to force me to avenge a dead man.”’’ ‘*‘Avenge him? Oh!’’ said she, ‘‘you will not avenge him by killing me.”’ The expression of the look and voice were so heart- rending, the sense of these words was so clear, that Belle- Rose felt moved to the very bottom of his heart. ‘*Speak!’’ he said to her; ‘‘speak! you know well, what- ever happens, that it is not I who can punish you.”’ Madame de Chateaufort silently took the hand of Belle- Rose and carried it to her lips. This mute kiss traversed the young officer’s veins like aflame. He felt his courage weaken, and disengaging his hand from the clasp of Genevieve, he made her a sign to sit down. Genevieve sat down; her face was as pale and woe-begone as the marble visage of Niobe; her respiration was oppressed, and in spite of the precocious warmth of the season, her teeth chattered. ‘‘Renounce this explanation,’’ Belle-Rose said to her; ‘**T have only one question to address you—only one. Your answer will suffice. ’’ ‘*You shall know nothing, or you shall know all,’’ said the duchess, firmly. ‘‘You are my judge and my master; listen to me.’”’ Belle-Rose knew Madame de Chateaufort too well to misunderstand the accent of her voice. Even in the sub- Gomichbooks.co