Belle Rose: A Romance of the Cloak and Sword — page 328: what you’re looking at

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

310 OVER HILLS AND ACROSS VALLEYS. ‘For this time, my poor fellow, you will scarcely have the leisure to continue your studies upon the character of the Rochefort girls; you will eat two or three pullets if you wish, but you will only drink enough wine to keep you in good health.”’ ‘*Eh! eh! this has to me the air of an expedition.”’ ‘It is in act something approaching it; we have left two, there will be three of us when we return.”’ ‘*Ah! diable!’’ said Déroute, fixing upon Belle-Rose a curious glance. “This third person is not, just now, much higher than your boot.’ **A child.”’ ‘‘Quite right.” Déroute had a question at the end of his lips, but he dared not ask it; Belle-Rose guessed it from the air of his face and smiled. This smile gave courage to Déroute, who was observing him from the corner of his eye; he opened his mouth. 7 ‘Say, then, my captain, this little fellow has to me the appearance of being a little cannoneer.’’ ‘*This little fellow is a light-horseman.”’ For once Déroute was nonplused; he scratched his forehead and sought in his mind what connection there could be between his master and the little cavalier. He would have sought a long time without finding anything, if Belle-Rose had not drawn him from his embarrassment. ‘“‘My comrade,’’ said he, ‘“‘this light-horseman is a nephew of Monsieur de Naucrais.”’ ‘‘A nephew of the colonel!’’ exclaimed Déroute, leaping with joy in his saddle. ‘*Exactly.’’ ‘‘Well, captain, we will make of him a marshal of France. ”’ | ‘‘Certainly; and to begin with, you will teach him how to handle arms.’’ The two travelers took the road by Septeuil and Mont- fort-l’ Amaury; it was at the same time the shortest and the surest way. The road was little traveled, and it was not probable that Monsieur de Charny’s agents had spread in that direction. They slept at Rambouillet, and at sun- rise the following morning they went to Rochefort. At the moment of starting Déroute absented himself some minutes; when he returned to the hostelry Belle-Rose asked him the cause of his absence. ‘‘This is it,’’ replied the sergeant; ‘‘it has seemed to me re ea ASE. Pe ee ee — i a oy Gomicbooks.com —