Belle Rose: A Romance of the Cloak and Sword — page 52: what you’re looking at

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

42 THE INTERIOR OF A BARRACK. wrinkle, shown with an extraordinary fire; along tawny mustache divided his face made thin by the fatigues of war; he had, while speaking, the habit of twisting its sharp points between his fingers, without taking his eyes off the person whom he was questioning. This look, clear and keen as a steel point, seemed to penetrate to the in- most depth of consciences, and the most hardened felt themselves troubled by its fixity. Monsieur de Naucrais was two or three years younger than his brother and ap- peared to be three or four years older. The habit of com- mand, and above all, his naturally imperious character, gave to his whole person an air of authority which over- awed at the first glance. .It was necessary to stop at the features of the face to find some resemblance between the two brothers. There was none in the physiognomy. Mon- sieur de Naucrais was holding Monsieur d’Assonville’s let- ter in his hand when Jacques entered. He silently consid- ered him for two or three minutes. ‘*You come from St. Pal?’’ the captain finally said. ‘*T left there a quarter of an hour ago.’’ ‘*From what my brother remarks, you intend to make a soldier of yourself. ”’ ‘*Yes, captain.’’ ‘It is a trade in which there is more lead than money to gain.’’ ‘*It is also the most honorable for a man of courage who wishes to push himself in the world.”’ ‘That concerns you; but I must warn you that in the artillery, and in my company, above all, one is a slave to discipline. At the first fault the awkward soldier is placed in the dungeon, at the second he is flogged by the line, at the third he is shot.’’ ‘*T shall endeavor not to go to the dungeon, in order to be always far from the musket.’’ ‘‘That is your affair. You know the regime of my com- pany—does it still please you to enter it?”’ ‘Yes, captain.’’ ‘*Monsieur d’Assonville speaks to me of you as a deter- mined fellow. You have seen fire, he says, and have con- ducted yourself well under it.’’ ‘I have done my duty.’’ ‘That is well. Starting from to-day, you are a soldier in my company; recollect to always follow the straight line, and do not oblige me to punish you; I would do it piti- lessly, so much the more that being recommended to me by my brother, I wish you to be worthy of my protection. GoOmiGcbooks (E(@)