Belle Rose: A Romance of the Cloak and Sword — page 206: what you’re looking at

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

192 TWO WOMEN’S HEARTS. de Naucrais left for Limbourg and Cornelius for Arras. At the name of Cornelius O’Brien, Madame de Chateaufort gave orders to introduce the young Irishman into her presence. The duchess was in an oratory in which pene- trated only a doubtful light; she was clothed in a long robe which concealed her neck and arms. A pale smile half parted her lips on seeing Cornelius. ‘‘What brings you?’’ she said to him; ‘‘are you going to give me the joy of thinking that [ can be of some service to you?”’ ‘‘Not to me, but to another, madame.”’ ‘‘Speak!’’ said the duchess, who had Belle-Rose’s name upon her lips and dared not pronounce it. ‘*Belle-Rose is arrested. ”’ ‘Arrested! did you say?’’ exclaimed Madame de Cha- teaufort, fixing her frightened glance upon Cornelius. Cornelius related the circumstances which had preceded and accompanied this arrest. Madame de Chateaufort listened to him with clasped hands. When she learned that Belle-Rose had been taken to the Bastile, she shivered. ‘‘It is a terrible place,’’ said she; ‘‘some leave it to lose their lives, others remain there to die.’”’ ‘“‘We must get him out, madame, and get him out alive.”’ ‘Certainly, I will do all I can, but am I sure of succeed- ing?”’ ‘“You? but you have already saved him from death. You will save him from prison, too.”’ Madame de Chateaufort shook her head. ‘‘T was powerful then, and he was only a soldier,’’ said she. ‘‘I have lost my credit, and he is now a criminal of state. ’’ ‘*He!’’ said Cornelius, frightened. “Kh! you do not know what the court is and how the innocent are transformed into the guilty. You do not know Monsieur de Louvois; ferocious, violent, and im- perious, he hates those who wound him, and he is not the man to pardon Belle-Rose.’’ ‘‘He need not pardon him, but let him give him back his liberty. He will not dare to refuse you.”’ ‘‘Perhaps not, if I were still young, beautiful, and powerful. Look at me and tell me if I am she whom you knew three months ago. I have left the court, others have come, and Iam forgotten. Oh, do not say no, those who move around a king forget quickly !”’ ‘‘What must we do, then?’’ exclaimed Cornelius. ‘‘Attempt everything and pray God. I will go to see : Gomicboo S (E(0)