Belle Rose: A Romance of the Cloak and Sword — page 360: what you’re looking at

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

342 A PLEASANT JOURNEY. But the war is here, Belle-Rose; the sword can conquer everything.’’ ‘*T shall try it,’’ said Belle-Rose, with a proud smile. ‘And the occasions will not fail you, friend Jacques,”’ said the duke. ‘‘I have been told things about you which prove that your hand has not grown benumbed during peace. You are among us, stay here; the army is a great family, and all soldiers are brothers.”’ Monsieur de Luxembourg opened the dispatches which Monsieur de Naucrais had brought him; his eyes sparkled as he ran over them and his cheeks reddened. ‘‘It is war! messieurs,’’ he exclaimed, in a vibrating tone. ‘‘The king is passing his troops in review; as to us, we shall soon pass to the frontier.’’ When Belle-Rose and Monsieur de Naucrais went out, they found groups of officers waiting for them at the door. At the news of the war which was on the eve of bursting out, there were among these brave gentlemen a thousand cries of enthusiasm. ‘The news spread over the camp like an electric spark, sowing intoxication everywhere; the soldiers placed their hats at the end of their bayonets and embraced each other. When evening came, fires were lit all along the line, and the camp presented the aspect of a great ant-hill of soldiers agitated by a nervous ardor. What Monsieur de Luxembourg had foreseen happened; the officers who had served in the same corps as Belle-Rose in 1668, welcomed him like a brother in arms and pre- sented him to their new comrades. If needed, the captain would have found fifty swords for defending him and numberless tents for receiving him. The regiment of La Ferté, in which he had first served and gained his first grade, congregated around him, and displayed for him the liveliest affection. As to Pierre, he had not quitted Mon- sieur de Naucrais, who bad attached him to his person. He had become corporal, then sergeant, and had a strong desire to become captain. At the end of an hour, Déroute came back, bringing with him a dozen sergeants, whom he had recruited among his old acquaintances. ‘‘Our pardon is at the end of our swords,’’ Belle-Rose said to him. ‘Then we hold it,’’ said Déroute, with a calm air. This night the sergeant went to sleep under a cannon. (eCoypnyicel evove) S (