D'Artagnan, the King Maker — page 143: what you’re looking at

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

132 The Phantom Bell. much comment wherever there was court and sovereign through Christendom!’’ “Do they go as far as assassination?’ The speaker gripped this sword quickly, as if it had given a leap to leave the scabbard. “So it was with grief and dread that I consented to part with my lord. He received a royal invitation— mandate, you understand—to attend a ceremony— launching of a new kind of warship—at San Andero. He said that if there were evil brewing, he could not flee —he was fettered, bound to Spain, while depending on news from over the mountains on which hung the fate of his lifelong project—to regain his ancestral throne.” “Madame, I ‘have not been deficient in diligence; but I was timed to harmonize with others in my striking.” “T blame no one! My lord, I continue, said that, if the invitation concealed a deathtrap, he must not drag me into it. Besides, I was, in event of his not joining me at a week’s interval, to retire into Portugal. I was, in case he disappeared, to act as I deemed meet.” “Revenge ‘him ?” “One of his forefathers is known as ‘the Avenger;’ acting for ‘him, I might imitate that monarch!” “Suppose you did raise the South for that end, there would still be the severed kingdom on your hands. Who would be offered the vacant throne ?” “What other? Never mind! I would not bring on that dreadful war unless I were sure of success!” “Let me see! Assist at a launching at San Andero— the Spanish fleet would ‘be there to do the royal substi- tute honor—a new type of warship?’ muttered the French private envoy, thinking of the unseen ship at which the three Spanish vessels were firing. ‘“‘Was my lord to preside—christen the vessel ?” “The duke is generalissimo of the army of Portugal— derisive title! As such he was a royal delegate to the ceremony, but he was merely a guest. Above him in activity ranked Admiral Don Lopez Ozario, whom all the navy officers would obey. My lord promised me, for security's sake, that he would stay aboard a certain fleet vessel, of which the commander and others were true to him, if anybody remains true at these times—such as Eomicbooks.co im