D'Artagnan, the King Maker — page 68: what you’re looking at

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

A New Bidder. 59 at that time. “Let the Gentile shrink who knows not the virtue of letters of ‘change! Now, may my intimate gods (Teraphim) be good to me! I will open, though the nine worthies stood without ai So muttering, he drew aside the canvas with a hand that did not tremble. The mantled figure did not advance. This embold- ened him to challenge loudly: “What is wanted?” “T-want the way in, in the first place!” It was a sweet voice utterly unlike any he had nerved himself to hear. By an imperative motion, the white-gloved hand waved him aside, with a fan she held, one of those with which a man might have been stunned, so heavily was the handle incrusted with crystal and other second-rate gems. “A woman—a lady!” stammered he, drawing back in amaze, while still holding up the screen. What was a siren doing on this sterile shore? Are there nereids to come out of the wondrous deep? “Are you going to let me pass?” proceeded the voice, as if the speaker were not accustomed to being delayed. “If there are mermaids,’ murmured Elizor, running his long, dry hands through his tangled black hair, ‘‘this is the queen of them. Why do you ask to come in?” ‘Because this is the public house of Las Salinas.”’ “You are right. It is the only house, if it deserves that name. But there is no accommodation, lady. Why should you want to enter here?” “Know, eccentric boniface, that I am eccentric also—I want to do good!” “Truly? to whom? I—I am only the host for the time being—I am a landlord perforce.” “T can put ten moidores in your box, temporary host, for an eternity, for, judging by your promontory, you love and you hoard gold.” “Ten moidores—thirteen gold philips,” repeated Elizor, quickly, not resenting the personal remark, and licking his lips so that their color was revived. “Open straight! There is a flaring torch in the village below. I do not wish to be seen by the clowns.” Judging that he need fear nothing from a person who shunned what shadowy publicity Salinas offered, he drew Eomicbooks (C)