Belle Rose: A Romance of the Cloak and Sword — page 98: what you’re looking at

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

86 THE LIGHTING OF A PASSION. Rose heard only one cry, and fainted. When he came to himself, he was extended upon a sofa ina large and mag- nificently furnished room. His first act was to carry his hand to his forehead; a keen pain answered the contact of his fingers. ‘*Yes, yes, you are wounded! It would have only taken half an inch more for the horse’s hoofs to strike your temple. Adonis has been adroit in his awkwardness.’’ Belle-Rose looked to see who was speaking, and recog: nized the lady whom he had just drawn from so great a peril. He wished to raise himself to thank her for the care which she had taken of him. ‘*Keep still,’’ said she, ‘‘you are not in condition to move with the wound in your head and the bleeding which your arm has undergone.”’ Belle-Rose only then perceived that his left arm was surrounded with bandages. He smiled and again fixed his eyes upon the lady who was seated before him in a large fauteuil. Her riding habit, torn in three or four places, was stained with blood; she, too, carried her arm ina sling, and her streaming hair fell in long, brown tresses around her face, where shone wondrously beauti- ful eyes. In the midst of the confused sensations agitating his soul, it seemed to the young officer that it was not the first time the sound of that voice had struck his ear; but he could not recall either in what place or under what cir- cumstances he had heard it. As to the lady’s face, it was altogether unknown to him. She answered Belle-Rose’s smile by another smile; but there was something bitter and disdainful in the movement of her lips which robbed them of their grace. ‘‘IT understand,’’ said she; ‘‘you have felt nothing, neither the fall, nor the kick, nor the removal to the chateau upon a litter, nor the bleeding, nor the bandag- ing. A pretty woman would not have fainted better.’’ Belle-Rose blushed slightly. ‘*But,’’ continued the lady, ‘‘you fell from the clouds, then, when you so brusquely seized hold of Adonis?’’ Belle-Rose had forgotten everything. The lady’s ques- tion made him recollect. He saw again, at the same time, his duel, his departure, his flight, and was silent, measur- ing in thought the solitude and misfortune into which his life had just been plunged. ‘‘Oh! I do not ask you for your secret,’’ continued his interlocutrix. ‘‘ You have saved my life—the least that I can do for you is to let you preserve silence. But, upon Gom Eboo S (E(e)