D'Artagnan, the King Maker — page 319: what you’re looking at

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

300 The True King. throng. All the spectators had donned gala attire, and Heaven knows what wardrobes and lockers had been ran- sacked to provide old jewelry and variegated weavings to enliven the scene. There were enough armed men mixed with the country nobility to show that this spectacle was the fruit of a civil war. The uninjured part of the palace had been given up to Luisa de Braganza, who appeared, with a number of ladies, her own friends, augmented by wives of local dig- nitaries, functionaries and officials, pledging them as host- ages for their good behavior to the new rule. The transfer of Lisbon to the substitute for Philip had been, on the whole, so bloodless, that no mourning flecked the gay and luxuriously-vested crowd. “Long live the queen!” was the hailing sound, as the proud and luminous princess stood out in full glare. Don Juan had been satiated with greetings. He was able to look around in a sort of leisure. At last he de- scried what he was seeking, “his” two Frenchmen; but his smile was dampened by his spying Don Jorge between them. “Who is this?” he demanded of D’Artagnan, as the lat- ter approached, under the inviting glance. Donna Jacinta, who was near her mistress, pale where the other blushed happily, shuddered, fearing her brother would show his unshaken loyalty offensively. “Count, you can put your case stronger than I,” said the musketeer to Porthos’ prisoner; “speak out !—masks and veils are cast off this day! To-morrow, as the court will be in swing again, we must hold, with the stoic, that silence is the one virtue to cherish. Couch your speech prettily, for at the dawn of a reign all should be courtly.”’ The Count of Marianda stepped forward, and in a euarded tone, announced himself. At the title, which caused some emotion, Jacinta looked appealingly to the princess, who nodded encouragingly. “My ancestors accepted a fair defeat by the Spaniards, and ever since we have been true to the treaty made on the battlefield, where no shame mingled with our blood. I am aye faithful to King Philip, and I am opposed, as ever, to your exercising sway over my country!” Eomicbooks. co Eee i th Og” ee —_— i |