Beaulieu

“ Victory belongs to the swiftest. I am well satisfied with General Beaulieu, he manoeuvres well; he is a stronger man than his predecessor. I trust to beat him soundly. Be without care; love me as your eyes; but no, that is not enough, as yourself, more than yourself, as your thoughts, as your spirit, your life, your all! Sweet friend, pardon me; I am beyond myself; nature is too weak for him who feels with passion, for him whom you love.
“To Barras, Sucy, Madame Tallien, my heart-felt friendship; to Madame Chateau Renaud, kindest regards; for Eugene and Hortense, my true love. ”

“ The Château de Beaulieu, in the Louis XIII. style, is built of white stone with red brick dressings. A broad terrace more than five hundred yards long, with a balustrade in red granite, and decked with parterres of flowers, becomes a delightful walk in autumn. M. Derblay's ironworks may have somewhat spoilt the beauty of the landscape, but Beaulieu remains a highly covetable estate.
Madame de Beaulieu sat in the drawing-room knitting woollen hoods for the children in the village, while her daughter Claire contemplated, without seeing it, the admirable horizon before her. ”

“ A lawyer was bad enough, but a nurse—the loving guardian of somebody else's tender youth—was too much. Discovery again loomed on the horizon, and he did not want to be discovered. Whether it belonged to him or not, the position of Count de Beaulieu suited him down to the ground, and he had not the slightest intention of surrendering it without a struggle. ”

“ The manager pleaded soothingly.
Monsieur de Beaulieu smiled.
"I believe you wished to speak to me," he said. "Who is this person?"
The manager had no opportunity to explain. The "person" turned from red to purple and uttered a sound that was like a throttled scream.
"I demand that the police be sent for," he stuttered. "I demand that this man be arrested. He is a fraud, a humbug. There is but one Count de Beaulieu and I am he. This here is the Countess de Beaulieu—" He broke off, choking with temper, and the late William Brown glanced involuntarily in the direction indicated. ”

“ And who do you think I am?"
"You have been pointed out to me as the Count de Beaulieu's valet."
"Oh, indeed. Well, perhaps you aren't quite as bright as you think you are." George made an attempt to pass, but the stranger stretched out two detaining fingers.
"Do you want to earn half a crown?" he asked.
George shuddered.
"Wot a nasty idea!" he said. "I'll think about it."
"Because if you do, take this letter and give it to the Countess of Beaulieu. Say that I'll wait for her in the garden."
"Aren't you afraid she'll die of joy?"
"You are an extremely impertinent fellow. ”

“ Am I, for instance, really the Count Louis de Beaulieu?"
She looked at him in quick surprise.
"Of course," she said.
"And you are Mademoiselle Theodora de Melville?"
She nodded without speaking and he hesitated, knowing that he was near delicate ground, yet desperately anxious to know more.
"I know I sound like an inquisitor," he went on humbly, "but you must have patience with me. You can treat me as a sort of harmless lunatic if you like, but remember that you are the only person who can help me. Won't you tell me something more—tell me, for instance, where you live?" ”

“ Let me take off your furs for you—so. Are you comfortable? Is it too warm for you?"
She smiled up into his eager face and the smile transfigured her. Monsieur de Beaulieu forgot to look away.
"At any rate you have remembered how to be nice," she said. "Thank you—I am very comfortable. Won't you sit down—over there?"
The gentle reminder recalled him to himself and he bowed stiffly.
"Thank you, Mademoiselle—"
"Don't be offended." There was now a suspicion of genuine laughter in her grey eyes. "You see, we are starting life all over again." ”

“ The spiritual brothers of every monastic order had in common, it would seem, the gift of discerning for their foundations sites as perfect in natural charms and resources as in their adaptability for lives of study and meditation, and in their security against encroachments from without. Beaulieu and Netley had each in a measure these advantages. At the time of the Dissolution remoteness and inaccessibility proved the salvation of Netley Abbey. The vast mother-abbey of Beaulieu however lay along tide-water, and its stones were materially available for the king’s purposes. ”

“ Monsieur de Beaulieu adjusted his eyeglass with the air of a man who sees his way clear.
"Then it seems to me that we can go ahead without compunction," he remarked. "Theodora—"
She rose.
"I have the honour to wish you good-morning, Count."
"Where are you going?"
She shrugged her shoulders.
"That, my friend, is no longer your affair."
"Excuse me!" He rose and faced her. "I have been thinking it over," he said slowly and distinctly. "It's too long a business to start life all over again. If you have no objection we will begin where we left off, Theodora." ”

“ Monsieur de Beaulieu drew himself up. It annoyed him to find that he was still saddled with a doubtful character.
"Why? Did they object to me?"
"You had no money—in those days," she answered with a faint smile. "And they said that you were—well, just a little wild."
It was no use feeling aggrieved. A man with Slippery Bill's record might be thankful to come off so lightly. "Apparently you overcame their—prejudices, however?" he suggested.
She threw back her head with a fascinating movement of defiance. ”

“ Hospice. La Turbie also can be seen at great advantage. It lies in the col between Mont Agel and the Tête de Chien and marks the place of crossing of the Roman road.
On the coast, on either side of Cap Ferrat, are respectively Beaulieu and Villefranche. Beaulieu is a super-village of sumptuous villas. It lies on an evergreen shelf by the sea, pampered by an indulgent climate, made gorgeous by an extravagant vegetation and provided by all the delights that the most florid house agent could invent. It breathes luxury and wealth, languid ease and a surfeit of comfort. ”

“ But he had scarcely started when Beaulieu made his existence felt by attacking a French post at Bouillon. Thereupon Jourdan made the active enemy, instead of Namur, his first object.
The movement of the operative portion of the Army of the Moselle began on the 21st of May from Longwy through Arlon towards Neufchâteau. Irregular fighting, sometimes with the Austrians, sometimes with the bitterly hostile inhabitants, marked its progress. Beaulieu was nowhere forced into a battle. But fortune was on Jourdan’s side. ”

“ From Beaulieu I set out in the afternoon across the Forest, and at first over the western part of Beaulieu Heath for Brockenhurst. The road across the heath is not in itself of much beauty, but it affords some glorious views both of the Forest and the sea. As I drew nearer to Brockenhurst, however, I came into the woods, and the sylvan beauty of the vale, through which the Lymington River flows southward, was delicious. ”

“ The great bell of Beaulieu was ringing. Far away through the forest might be heard its musical clangor and swell. ”

“ There can be no more delicious spot in the world. St Bernard loved the valleys as St Benedict the hills, and as St Bernard was the refounder of the Cistercian Order to which Beaulieu belonged, it, like Waverley, Tintern, Netley, and a hundred others in England, was set in one of those delicious vales in which I think England is richer than any other country, and which here, in England of my heart, seem to demand rather our worship than our praise. ”

“ De Beaulieu fingered his eyeglass nervously.
"Was that very long ago?"
"Five years."
"And we saw each other very often, I sup- pose?"
"Oh, no." She looked at him with puzzled brows. "We only knew each other for a week. It was a case of love at first sight. Then you went away to make your fortune."
He nodded gravely. It occurred to him that here lay a possible clue to the mystery. A week is a short time to remember and five years a long time in which to forget. A faint resemblance might easily develop, backed by circumstance, into something more definite. ”

“ This, again, was by no means in close touch with the Sardinian allies encamped further to the west in and beyond Ceva. Beaulieu, writing at a later date to Colonel Graham, the English attaché at his headquarters, ascribed his first disasters to Argenteau, his lieutenant at Montenotte, who employed only a third of the forces placed under his command. ”

“ Well, never mind, I daresay one new-found Count is enough for an afternoon. As I was saying, I am a man of many parts. In private life or during compulsory rest-cures I drop 'hs.' At other times I can talk any lingo you like. Would you like a sample of French—?"
"Good Heavens—no!"
Voices sounded outside. Monsieur de Beaulieu heard his wife's laugh a little—uneasy, he thought—and then a detestable masculine bass. George leant forward, his face had become diabolically threatening.
"If you don't give me out as your cousin, I'll give you away," he said in a sepulchral whisper. ”

“ Having thus artfully led the Austrian Beaulieu to concentrate his forces at this point, he suddenly moved eastward along the southern bank of the river, and crossed at Piacenza, 50 miles below the spot where Beaulieu was awaiting him. ... ”

“ Political troubles forced me to fly my own country and disguise myself under the name by which you have hitherto known me. My dear cousin, your husband, offered me the protection of which I stood in need, and now that the clouds are passed and I may once more assume my rightful position, I hope that we may both receive absolution."
Monsieur de Beaulieu suppressed a gasp. It was relatively plausible—and beautifully expressed. The vulgar denizen of No. 10, 'Urbert Street had disappeared behind an impenetrable coating of polish and refinement. ”

“ The town manufactures combs and horn goods, brass and iron wares, leather, malt, bricks and ropes. The town is governed by a mayor, 4 aldermen and 12 councillors. Area, 2105 acres.
Bewdley (i.e. Beaulieu) is probably referred to in the Domesday survey as “another Ribbesford,” and was held by the king. The manor, then called Bellus Locus or Beaulieu on account of its beautiful situation, was afterwards granted to the Mortimers, in whose family it continued until it was merged in the crown on the accession of Edward IV. It is from this time that Bewdley dates its importance. ”

“ Beaulieu had fallen back into Lombardy, and now bordered the Po right and left of Valenza. To achieve further progress, Napoleon had first to cross that river, and the point and method of crossing was the immediate problem, a problem the more difficult as Napoleon had no bridge train and could only make use of such existing bridges as he could seize intact. [10] If he crossed above Valenza, he would be confronted by one river-line after another, on one of which at least Beaulieu would probably stand to fight. ”

“ During the few days preceding Easter Sunday, John rode or walked to every part of the forest which he had visited in company with his dead friend. At Beaulieu, standing in the ruins of the Abbey, he could hear Desmond's delightful laugh as he recited the misadventures of Hordle John; at Stoneycross he sat upon the bank overlooking the moor, whence they had seen the fox steal into the woods about Rufus's Stone; at the Bell tavern at Brook they had lunched; at Hinton Admiral they had played cricket. ”

“ You see, they get intoxicated with success. They feel their luck can't fail—and so they blunder—as I fancy Mr. William Brown has done—"
He glanced round, flattered by the intense interest which he had evidently aroused. Monsieur de Beaulieu seemed even unnecessarily moved. ”

“ CHAPTER VI OUT WITH SOUSI BEAULIEU It's a, fine thing to get started, however late in the day, and though it was 3.20 P. M. before everything was ready, we gladly set out—Sousi, Major Jarvis, and myself—all mounted, the native leading a packhorse with provisions.
And now we had a chance to study our guide. A man's real history begins, of course, about twenty years before he is born. In the middle of the last century was a notorious old ruffian named Beaulieu. Montreal was too slow for him, so he invaded the north-west with a chosen crew of congenial spirits. ”

“ Then, madame, I would recommend the following plan: instead of going on to Quebec, by which you will lose little, save a glimpse at a society which is not without its charm, you should go back across the river and down as far as Beaulieu, where you will find Mme. de Sarennes and her charming daughter Angélique. I shall give you letters which will ensure you a welcome and a shelter for such time as you may have to remain under her care. ”

“ She did manifest, both by words and manner, her deep regret for him. And note now, two or three years before this, he had despatched two galleys on a freebooting expedition under the charge of Captain Beaulieu, one of the Lieutenants of his galleys. ”

“ Everywhere, in fact, are seen the traces of the monks. Their walks still remain by the side of the Exe, overgrown with oaks, bright in the spring with blue and crimson lungwort, and sweet with violets, such as grew when Anne Beauchamp sought refuge here that dismal Easter day.
Not only do the Abbey grounds, [15] but the whole district, show the size of the monastery. Going out of Beaulieu, upon the road to Bucklershard, we come upon the ox-farm of the monks, still called Bouvery, and still famous for its grazing land. ”

“ In 1587, the Abbey was dissolved, the last Abbot, Thomas Stephens, with twenty out of the thirty monks, signing the deed of surrender. [9] Stephens was pensioned off with a hundred marks; and some of the monks received various annuities and compensations for their losses. So fell the monastery of Beaulieu, and its stones went to build Henry VIII.'s martello tower at Hurst, and its lead to repair Calshot, [10] to fight against the very Power which had raised it to its glory. ”