Belle Rose: A Romance of the Cloak and Sword — page 292: what you’re looking at

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

276 BY THE AID OF FIRE. was a jovial lad who frequented cabarets and gaming- houses, where he had formed all sorts of bad acquaintances, among which was that of Bovletord. It was a side of his life which he did not reveal to his uncle, who regarded him as a little saint. ‘Hey! Christopher!’’ said Bouletord, ‘‘those are fine animals you have there; they ought to bring you in two hundred pistoles.’’ “That would be a bad bargain. They cost me four thou- sand livres!’’ replied the nephew, coming to a halt. ‘‘Vour dear uncle, then, has a desire to stock his stables!’’ said the quartermaster, caressing the neck of one of the horses. feng ra he loves his louis too well to risk a single one of em.”’ “Tt is, then, for you!”’ ‘‘Nothing in the hands, nothing in the pockets,’’ said Christopher, striking his gusset. ‘‘Ah! yes! there will be this evening ten or twenty pistoles which the gentleman will give me for my trouble.’’ ‘What gentleman?”’ “The gentleman at Papa Mériset’s, a proud soldier who talks like a duke and pays like a king.’’ Bouletord pricked up his ears. ‘‘Ah! ah!’’ said he, ‘‘and he has need of four horses, your gentleman?’’ ‘‘T have an idea that they will see some country before to-morrow’s sun. I have been recommended to choose the most active and vigorous beasts. ’’ Bouletord had not forgotten that Belle-Rose had been arrested at Monsieur Mériset’s. ‘‘T¢ is clear,’’ he thought; “‘his temerity is cunning; who the devil would have thought the swallow would have re- turned to the nest?’’ Bouletord, wishing to clear up his first suspicions, pro- posed to Christopher to drink a bottle or two at the caba- ret on the corner. They drank, and Bouletord questioned Christopher. In the midst of his thoughtlessness, Christo- pher was an honest and worthy fellow. Seeing himself questioned, he understood at once that he had already said too much; he was silent, emptied his glass, remounted his horse and rode away. But Bouletord divined the unknown from the known. If horses were purchased, it was for flying, and if they wished to fly, it was because they cherished the hope of carrying off the captive, Boule. <3 GComicboo S (E(@)