Belle Rose: A Romance of the Cloak and Sword — page 383: what you’re looking at

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

THE RUE DE L’ARBRE-SEC. 365 passed the door Belle-Rose made an imperceptible sign to Déroute, who was going out also. Deroute remained alone with Belle-Rose. The sergeant looked at the colonel with an indefinable sentiment of curiosity. He had never seen him so calm and so terrible; his features had the rigidity of marble. ‘‘Is Grippard here?’’ asked Belle-Rose. ‘“He is down below, with the horses. ’’ ‘*He must come up.”’ Grippard was called and at once made his appearance. ‘‘My old comrade and you, Grippard, are going to follow me.’’ **At once,’’ they answered, together, **You will do what I tell you?’’ ‘*Without hesitation. ”’ ‘Then take your swords and pistols.’”’ ‘*We have them.’”’ **Saddle the horses and let us start.’’ Grippard ran to the stable, Déroute took the cloaks and they quitted the abbey as noiselessly as they could. The night was black, sad, and full of sinister noises as at the hours when a storm is brewing on the horizon. Once again they crossed that route which Belle-Rose had traversed so often already and under circumstances so diverse. Noneof the three cavaliers spoke. Belle-Rose rode in front, firm, implacable, and rapid as destiny. They entered Paris; upon the colonel’s order, Déroute knocked at the door of a haberdashery. He took three masks, and each of them tied one upon his face. The horses were left in an inn, and the three soldiers plunged into the city. **{t is here,’’ said Belle-Rose, when they had arrived be- fore Monsieur de Louvois hotel. Leaning against a somber wall, they waited a long time, immovable as blocks of stone. Shortly after midnight a carriage left the court; it was drawn by two horses and driven by a coachman; there was a lackey in front with a torch. This carriage was of a somber color and bore no escutcheon upon its panels. When about to pass the porte cochére, a man lowered a window and showed his pale face. **To Voisin’s!’’ said he. This man was Monsieur de Charny. Belle-Rose took up his position behind the carriage and followed it. Déroute and Griprpard were close upon his heels. The state of the streets and the profound obscurity did not permit the equipage to advance very quickly. _ Belle-Rose and his two companions, accustomed to all the Gomicboo Ss (E(0) >