D'Artagnan, the King Maker — page 173: what you’re looking at

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

162 Rebellion Begets Rebels. sequence—because there had been a festa at a neighbor- ing port—a new vessel was put on the water.” ‘“T have heard about that! Go on!” “Large galleys had been cracked on the Mole in try- ing to enter, like nuts in a baboon’s claw! We con- cluded that, even with our servants united, we could not make much way against the wreckers, who hovered around the regular searchers, sparing no one who raised his voice against their pilfering, and so, came on. Ata little village we left our varlets and hurried here.” “Tt was well not to publish this retreat as yet. Would you kindly call Don Joa’” Braganza rose to cause the other to draw back. “I am deficient in ushers.” “A fig; the court comes where the king is!” said the envoy pleasantly, and, smiling, he obeyed. During his fleeting disappearance under the hanging, the duke stepped up beside his wife and whispered to her: | “Flattery so soon! where the flatterers are, a fool is near !’’ “Don’t you be the fool, Luis! Now, do you doubt the game they are playing?” “Madame, usually only the mighty are betrayed—why gull the fondly believing?” “Because it is doubly base, and the traitor cannot stoop too low!” When Don Roha was seen next he was accompanied by his fellow noble. Don Joa de Palama was an elderly man; one of those who dry up at a certain age, and never after show the progress of time; their hair grizzles but does not bleach; their eyes sink, but do not dull; their teeth wear down but do not fall out. In eighty years they do more harm, if double-dealing and vicious, than a worthy good man does good in a century; perhaps, that is why these evil- doers rarely live to be a hundred. “Come in boldly, Don Joa,” said the duke, affably. ‘For I have been fortified as to the bad tidings tarnish- ing your usually golden smile!” It was a sickly smile Palama wore. ‘“Welladay! yea, good my lord, bad!” sighed he. GEomichook