D'Artagnan, the King Maker — page 227: what you’re looking at

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

214 Porthos Fares Badly. buildings it enclosed had been removed, Porthos could have seen not only the Tagus but the sea at its mouth. “This cavalier wears Spanish colors,’ remarked Por- thos. “He must speak the tongue.” Convinced by this straightforward logic, he nipped his hatbrim between his finger and thumb, and, with a bow, accosted the Lisbonese landlord, for he had emerged from the door like a master. “Excuse me,” he began, “but I am a stranger to Lis- on +3 The gentleman seemed annoyed at being stopped, but as politeness should be met with the same, he halted and showed that he understood the Spanish used, by respond- ing in the same tongue: “You will also excuse me, sir, but I am almost a — stranger here, too, as the Northern Wars kept me away from my home. There are great changes here, yet Porthos wa's not in the mood to appreciate Lisbon’s recent embellishments, nor had he the opportunity, so he replied, a trifle jocularly : “There is room for improvement. But, surely, your city wall has not been altered in your absence. My way to the Oporto Gate, if you please?” “To the right, sir,” replied the native, testily. “And then ?” “Still turn to the right.” “But, then?” “You will always do well by keeping to the right.” “Whereupon I shall be “There.” “Sir, I am delighted to meet with one so courteous | where most of my encounters have been with boors.” “Sir,” returned the other, beginning to depart, with a bow as deep as the Frenchman’s, “I felicitate myself on our too brief acquaintance.” And, trying to make up for the lost time, the Lis- bonese ‘opened his legs in wide strides and plunged into a cutthroat-looking alley, as if fearless. He disappeared. “A little blunt,” criticised Porthos, relieved at bottom, “but doubtless the young man is speeding toa love-tryst. In the lulls of war trumpets, the lute peals out. But I wish I had that beadle’s costume on my back, in another GoOmicbooks (E(0)