D'Artagnan, the King Maker — page 269: what you’re looking at

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

252 A Fair Exchange. He was handed the mi:ror to read, as the scrawl was in his own language: “Kin may have bound me, Foes deep may wound me! They pain the heart, but all they do’s restrain! h, would you know me, Love you must show me! And find the noblest, surest way to reign “Faith, this poet, I think, has drunk full from Par- nassus’ pump,’ commented Porthos. “I take back any accusation that there were thieves here, or the Don Sebastian spirit—it was just a sapper who——’” “Bless us and preserve us! A sapper for a Sappho! Porthos, a sapper is one who carries on his boring with pick and spade, while a Sappho fi “Bores with pen, or in this case with diamond! But I am half right—this mansion is tunneled and mined! Hark! here comes the poet for his meed!”’ “His? hers! If this be Sappho, her feet are not poetic—but in horseman’s boots and she is armed for war! Let swords rest—it is only our host.” It was the count, armed with back and breastplate and gorget; his morion had a steel bar to protect the nose. Each side of this his eyes glittered with liveli- ness. In his belt was a pair of very fine pistols such as princes carried against assassins, and balancing them, on the other flank, was thrust a folded paper, ostensibly a warrant or order. “Sorry to disturb you, sirs,’ said he, quickly, “but a most grave circumstance hurries me home!” “At all hours your lordship’s servant!’ Porthos bowed. “The double kingdom’s safety is at stake. A terrible plot is winding among the loyal. We are trying to seize the coils before they strangle loyalty!” “Let it coil, as long as it does not strike,” returned the French captain, tranquilly. put it has struck—a stroke of unparalleled audac- ity!” “Indeed!” “Only some fifty strong, the fishermen of the Varinha Ward, who have free access into the town, came to 1°? Gomichbooks.co ) | ee ae i a