Belle Rose: A Romance of the Cloak and Sword — page 91: what you’re looking at

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

A DAUGHTER OF EVE. 79 ‘Those who believe in falsehood practice it,’’ Belle-Rose boldly said. The unknown trembled but did not reply, and addressed herself to Belle-Rose’s guide, expressing herself in a for- eign tongue. ‘‘Hh! madame, I cannot!’’ replied the guide, in French. ‘*Who hinders you.’”’ “The soldier, who has maintained his hold on me the whole length of the path and still maintains it.”’ “Tt is a whim which I pardon him, but which is going to finish this moment.’’ Belle-Rose made no reply, but his fingers did not fora moment cease to clasp the wrist of the guide. ‘*‘Well! did you hear me?’’ said the impatient lady. ‘*Perfectly ; but why should I do what you desire?’’ ‘*Because I wish it.’’ ‘That is a pretext at most, and I ask for a reason.’”’ ‘*Insolent!’’ exclaimed the unknown lady, springing to her feet. ‘‘Do you know that if I called, there are arms near here disposed to force you to obey and to punish you afterward?’’ ‘*T believe it, madame; but at the first cry, at the first gesture, I shall stretch this guide dead at your feet.’’ The fair unknown drew back at the sight of the poniard suspended above the breast of the page. ‘‘And when he is dead, the others will see that they are dealing with a resolute man who is not easy to overcome. Call now!’’ repeated the sergeant. ‘*Do not do it, madame; he would kill me as he says,”’ exclaimed the guide. ‘‘Ah! you are courageous, it appears,’’ said the masked woman. ‘I thank Monsieur d’Assonville for having sent me such a valiant ambassador.”’ ‘‘And I thank him for having chosen me for a mission in which arms must intervene in the midst of a discourse. Monsieur d’Assonville did not deceive me.”’ ‘*‘What! is it indeed he who caused you to take this pon- iard?’’ she exclaimed, in an indignant voice. ‘*Was he wrong, madame?”’ The unknown lady trembled at this question coldly pro- pounded, and Belle-Rose saw her neck purpled by a sud- den blush. She again seated herself upon the sofa and ap- red to gaze attentively at him. *‘Let us cut short this debate,’’ she softly said. ‘‘If I _ give you my word that nothing shall be done to you, will you release that page?’’ (E(0) =)