D'Artagnan, the King Maker — page 287: what you’re looking at

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

270 Tapping the Volcano. quests, had he pictured himself surrounded by kneeling beauty. He stood, the hub of radiant spokes. “But the multitude may return!” stammered a cham- berlain. An hour ago, they would have been “that scum.” “They are returning, the misguided people,” said an- other. “Madame, here is a table,” said the musketeer, and he shoved several dead bodies off the overturned board and righted it. “Pen, ink! Write, lady: ‘Governor: Ca- pitulate!’ ”’ “Never!” began the princess, her obstinacy returning. “Wise counsel,’ whispered an old clerk, whose white head was matted with blood. “Or every Spaniard in Lisbon will fatten the fishes!’ said Pedro, who perceived the Frenchman’s aim. Porthos looked at the vice-queen, twirling his mus- tache as if he had heretofore been irresistible. The Savoyard looked at this giant in the gaudy dress which only a Portuguese or a mountebank should have worn, concluded that it covered a great commander who had the will and the wit to move the masses, and, without understanding why she should cause pity, wrote as he ues Her signature was perfect with all its flour- ishes. The old clerk countersigned and set the seal upon it; he would have finished off a court document though the earth yawned. ‘Now, madame,” said Porthos, taking the paper, “get out of the barriers as soon as you can!” Their colloquy in Italian was an enigma to the others. “Because the citadel will fire in spite of my orders?” “Sooth, no! We took the citadel long since! the his- toric mule laden with gold!” Striding to the nearest window, he and Pedro stood in it, on the sill, and the sailor-general showed the paper. “Brothers,” said he, “of the coast and the country, the _ vice-queen yields to your wishes! This spikes the citadel guns! A cheer for the Lady of Savoy, returning to her own country!” A few careless shouts arose; but they might be in re- Eomicbooks. co