D'Artagnan, the King Maker — page 236: what you’re looking at

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

A Talk Over Sword Blades. 221 with that clicketting which the wandering Frenchman had heard. But, after his immediate recognition of both the com- batants, and also of the witness and cause, now in the doorway, he still farther recognized the citizen who had played the cicerone so badly. He had just dragged his bundle within his portals. As the musketeer did not feel sufficient apprehension regarding his captain to inter- 'fere impertinently, and his gall was as much overflowing | toward the second of his misinformants as the first, he directed his ire upon the last. _ “Sirrah,” said he, completely blocking all sight of Donna Jacinta from her pursuer, if the latter had had any leisure to look after another than himself, “is this the mint? and is yonder church door the Oporto Gate? Wait till I see my friend out of his encounter and we will nail your ears up against your doorpost, with a neat lit- tle scrip detailing your mode of directing visitors! I will teach you what “Turn to the Left’ really means, rogue!” And seizing him by his jerkin sleeve, he held him de- spite his wriggling, while coolly looking on at the fenc- ing bout. He showed more calmness than Jacinta. “He won’t be long killing him,’ he remarked, as a connoisseur in duelling. “Do you think so?” stammered she, making no secret of her identity with the Frenchman, so piteously that he started. “T mean, disarming him!” amended Porthos, who perceived that the sinner might be disciplined, but ought not ito be slain. “By San Jago! the means is ingenious to let the per- son escape!” said the Lisbonese, vexed. He might well be vexed, for he had never met a fencer of this finesse and prowess, whose front was impregna- ble. “T thought you would admit it. Iam glad all is served up to your taste,” said D’Artagnan, who in extreme ac- tion became garrulous as a Gascon. This chatter over the sword blades might not ‘be in dainty taste, but it often threw an antagonist off his guard. “But I can overtake her!” ‘She is too far!” (e@Mniicel Oe) Ss (©)