D'Artagnan, the King Maker — page 307: what you’re looking at

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

288 As the Knight, so His Squire. thought that his remuneration only covered this with- drawal to without the walls; if he could dispose of his forces in as high a market, he was not loth. With the chief of the party to which he was already indebted within his lines, he could make excellent conditions. Unlike his ‘hosts, all in stimulation, D’Artagnan called for refreshment, partook of it in solitary state, serene as a mummy of Pharaoh, and slept the whole night through. “Oh, these monarchs!” said the sergeant, as he looked in at every watch; “now, a common mortal, between lay- ing his head on the pillow and on the block, would not sleep a wink! But he, he just recruits for the long jour- ney. I hope he will be removed to Madrid, if the king is to deal with him, and have time to get my commission signed and sealed. Ah, me! sovereigns’ promises are but piecrust; but even the crust of a dream pie is nice eating to a poor fellow whose dreams have always risen no higher than his counter!” When his prisoner woke up, his jailer had a fine re- past waiting. African maize in cakes, done on an ashen fire, guinea fowls with cream and honey, fruit in pro- fusion, and steaming chocolate, so thick that a finger of bread stood up in it, and, indeed, it was eaten, then, as a kind of butter. “Poor ruler!” said the warder; “‘he has no rule over his gullet! That is eating like one who knows not whence comes the succeeding meal!” “T suppose nobody has asked after me?” inquired the captive, like one who has said good-by to the false, falling-off world. “Yes, the Spanish officers of the night, they questioned me every change of guard.” ‘“T alluded to the messengers of a lady!” “Oh, the duchess?” “She would not be fool enough to venture faithful servants here!” “Stop! While there were no court ladies, no one with the air of being a princess’ go-between, we had one poor, lubberly fellow, blubbering in the early hours. He is a huge lump, with a voice like to blow the tents over! He has only two words of Portuguese and three of Span- GEomichooks. co