Belle Rose: A Romance of the Cloak and Sword — page 204: what you’re looking at

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

190 A DIPLOMATIC MISSION. of the police. Monsieur Mériset welcomed Belle-Rose with that soft and mysterious smile which was customary with him. ‘‘T have had a little dinner prepared for you,’’ said he, rubbing his hands. “Very good; but before tasting it, I would be much obliged to you, my dear Monsieur Mériset, if you would be so kind as to render me a service.”’ ‘*What is it?’’ ‘That of lighting me a good fire in my room.’’ Monsieur Mériset looked at Belle-Rose with an astonished air. ‘*Are you sick?”’ **Not at a!l.”’ “It is that fire in the month of June——’’ ‘‘Make it, my dear host; fire does not only serve to warm by, it burns.’’ Monsieur Mériset did not understand Belle-Rose’s reply, but like a man who was accustomed to obey, he disap- peared. As soon as the fagots were ablaze, Belle-Rose mounted to his room, tore the strings which surrounded the papers, and set to work to burn them. At this moment a great tumult burst out upon the stair-way, the voice of Monsieur de Mériset was heard in disputation, and also that of Peppe. Belle-Rose rushed to the door and pushed to the bolts. The papers were all in the fire. In the midst of the noise made by the Italian, Monsieur Mériset, and the police officer disputing, Belle-Rose approached a window which opened upon the garden. That of the lower hall, where, Déroute had remained, opened just below it. ‘‘Hey ! sergeant,’’ said Belle-Rose, in a low tone. ‘“The police are here. Slip out of the house and be ready to fly.’’ ‘‘Are you coming?”’ ‘‘No; they are knocking at the door, and the papers are not all consumed yet.’’ ‘Then I shall stay.’’ ‘‘As you choose; but when both of us are in prison, which of us will save the other.’’ ‘*Well, I shall leave.”’ ‘Go and tell Monsieur de Luxembourg what you have seen. ’’ They were knocking furiously upon the door. Belle-Rose looked toward the chimney; the papers were three-fourths burned. He pushed with his foot what were left in the fire-place, . (E(0) micboo S ico