D'Artagnan, the King Maker — page 249: what you’re looking at

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

234 For the King. the bottom or it would not have stood on the ledge—a snuff-jar!” “Peace, gentlemen, peace! let us have no jars here!” laughed the host. “We will put it that the milliner took shelter with her uncle, who sells both oil and tobacco. In this case, I was in error. To be sure, the girl was dressed like a country kin of a town tradesman—and, oh! I am a fool! my sister would be leagues off, with that embroiling duchess !”’ “Ha, ha, ha! did you take that hoyden for an illustrious lady, your sister?” And D’Artagnan’s laugh was only outdone in hearti- ness and volume by his brother musketeers. “She had the air! but my sister would never quit the fool-fire which will burn her at the last! She is welded to that proud Gonzago!” “I do not suppose she would leave her—particularly since she has no one else to turn to, now that she is out- lawed!” } “Not a soul,’ sadly observed the count. “Not even this roof can be hers now.” “I should think not,” said the captain, broadly, “not with two captains of fortune under it! Ha! ha!” “IT mean that I am going to draw out the servants to enter my regiment—lI will defend the town as long as we can hold out. You have full range of this portion, with a street outlet. The domestics will obey you as the master !”’ “If we were prisoners, we should have the most admir- able jailer,” said the captain. “Oh, have you the latest news ?” “It is reported that the insurgents have united, the force more or less maritime out of Oporto, with the rural rebels. This army of rabble would be close to us. Vasconcellos, our governor, representing the king, is stubborn, and will not coincide with the military chief, who withdrew the garrison on his own responsibility. The civil lieutenant is vacillating. The townsfolk are not to be relied on; citizens who will throw down the keys when the first siege gun is trained upon the gate. But we have strengthened the strongholds in the city, and it will cost dear to dislodge us.” Eomichooks co im