D'Artagnan, the King Maker — page 183: what you’re looking at

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

172 First Sword, then Sceptre. happy fish will sport, and feed, and thrive! So do the subjects of a despot enjoy their halcyon hour when he is swept away! Yes, the harpooner may be carried down by the fatal lance, but his memory lives and inspires an- other, who may better taste the fruit of victory. Crown me not King, if I shall not be the Liberator, too! “Do you follow? the king’s favor is no inheritance— it must be earned. Please me, and prosper! It is hard to live at Court with the king at variance! Men reward with pasture in its old age the steed that carried, not the one that threw!” He was interrupted by the cannon seaward and the trumpet inland, strong though his exhortation had been. The two nobles advanced as though to offer him the homage solicited. “Sirs, the ship is ready. J am going to Oporto with those dear to me!”’ The duchess had risen. At the opening, her maid ap- peared. “What is that, my lord?” asked Don Joa, of any one who could enlighten. “T say,” continued the prince, “that my friends in Por- tugal await me, and that I shall sit on the throne in Lis- bon Palace, or I shall have joined my ancestors in the tombs therein!” “Will not your grace,’ urged Roha, “permit a hum- ble servitor to show the rashness of this step ‘i “Gentlemen, I am decided. Follow or fall ‘Sure,’ persisted Joa in a bolder tone, having the monk ranged conspicuously by his side as the noble sup- ‘ported ‘him on the other; “we do not believe it is our duty, as your graces well-desiring lieges, to let you rush RDoH a certaindoom! Insucha case our devotion com- pe S . > P “Do you mean you would compel me?” began Bra- ganza, indignantly. “Our duty—hear us! compels us to oppose such de- parture!”’ The duke laughed in their faces while his lady, stand- ing only a pace back, exposed to the same strokes, for it was in deference, not lack of courage, reflected his laugh—if a smile is the reflection of a laugh. 39 Eomichbooks com