D'Artagnan, the King Maker — page 166: what you’re looking at

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

Thin Threads, but Strong. 155 “Being my duty, I do not want to be thanked too warmly for that, sir!” “Then, despite this future of jealous fears—chimeras, truly—you conspire for me against yourself?” “Against my happiness, I believe!’ “Well, there is an old detestation in our race against the distaff—the Braganzas have heretofore, relied on the sword, but I fear me, since Christianity emanci- pated woman from the seraglio, that we must some- times be grateful to them and receive their gifts. Upon my honor, though humiliating, I would sooner owe my crown to you than to those French swordsmen’s blades, and, far more, than to the Soleiman’s purse! But come, how about your plots—since however remote they spring and perchance deviously run, they flow into the same channel? You know all about mine, precipitated now by King Philip attacking me in person. Iam not ‘sup- pressed —I am forced to return the blow! They call me “The Mole,’ do they? Well, dragged out of my burrow, I shall fight, open-eyed!”’ In his eye was a savage gleam and none would recog- nize at that instant the supposed model prince content at his sovereign’s footstool. “Well, Juan, while you have been spreading the toils abroad, I have enlisted the ladies throughout Portu- gal bP] “A crusade of the Eleven Thousand Virgins!” “All they ask in return for their jewels, their hus- bands, sons, brothers and sweethearts, is a brilliant court!” “T see! feasts, galas, regattas, tauric combats, balls! Astute policy! this will gratify and repay the trading and merchant classes. And the vulgar like to look on over the hedge of soldiers!” “Therefore, throughout the kingdom, I have three parts on my side, that is, your side!” ‘Good! My lady, you are, may happen, wiser than IT. I am like the sea watch who sees clearer what 1s farthest off. You have been angling at home, while I have been trawling in distant waters.” “At least, I have played with my own line at my fingers’ ends—your grace must needs employ agents?” CORNICE OOOKS (©) im