D'Artagnan, the King Maker — page 70: what you’re looking at

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

A New Bidder. 61 signalize them as upholders of the cause they espoused. Her ears were small, close to the round head, and pink; her eyes black and lively; her hair abundant and only brown, not black, as one expected in strict harmony with her other traits. Seed pearls in long ropes were twined in and out of its braids and increased the mass which crowned her, and would ‘have broken the shock of a sabre cut—if even a Turk could think to strike at this master- piece of nature, perfected in the court. “I beg your ladyship’s pardon, but I cannot guess at your title?” “You are putting the very remark to me which is a question I cannot answer,” returned she, pertly. Elizor had a doubt. While he certainly was to meet by appointment Cardinal Richelieu’s emissary, there might be other business than monetary. This court lady was clearly just the one to carry out a plot on lines very dif- ferent from those he was fated to travel in. He took up the candle, snuffed it with tremor, as the snuff was large and hot, and held it to the writing on the post. “If you would please to read, my lady?” said he, with respect from adorable source—her rank and her beauty. Probably thinking it one of those prints carried by peddlers from door to door, to be stuck up in inns, barber shops, farriers” smithies, and public resorts, she gave it a careless glance. Then remembering that in these times none were justified in letting even trifles pass, she gave it a more interested look. Next she read it. Now the Jew believed that she read the French first, which convinced him that she was in the scheme; on the other hand, a Spanish lady might understand the tongue, although of her foes. “How now?” cried she, more amused than irritated; “do you take me, sirrah, for a Duchess de Chevreuse, the intriguante, who disguised herself so neatly as a cavalier that she deceived the officers of the port, trying to pre- vent her escaping out of France? No, I am not inter- twined with this plot—for, I warrant ye, sirrah! there is a plot when the workers involve four or five nations!” “You may be a duchess without being La Chevreuse,” replied Soleiman, stoutly, not caring to be considered a CORNICE OOOKS (C(O)