D'Artagnan, the King Maker — page 294: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XXXVI. THE MARPLOT. “Who the plague thas separated her from her lord when never in their linked career ought they have been parted less!’ meditated the envoy of Cardinal Richelieu, taking the vacated chair with ease, but listening all the while in the opposite direction to that she had taken. “There is a counterplot in operation.” “T wish that Jacinta were here! If we could lay our heads together, light would sparkle out as when amber is chafed. Peradventure, if there be underplay, they have secured the maid before the mistress !”’ Invigorated by this fear, keener than any misgiving on the duchess’ head, he left his chair, and, mousing a little in the tapestry, found a chink in the partition. It might have originated naturally in the old warping wood, but he had no doubt that the cranny had been enlarged by a spy. In great houses few hear any good of them- selves, and they listen to have warning. This crevice commanded a view of the other room, where, at a long table, some men sat jauntily upon its edge, some sedately around it. Two or three of these persons he had seen, at a dis- tance, at Oporto. The others were strangers to him, but he had no doubt that they were high placed at court. There was nothing so ominous in them, but they had thrown off their capes and cloaks so as to be free to move in close just-au-corps, narrow trunks and hose; those who wore shoes of soft leather under their riding boots had discarded the latter. It was one of these who had softly approached the door to listen. They thad stacked their long swords against the wall, and carried short hunting knives, daggers and fine pisto- lets. But everybody has such arms at this crisis. The watcher was not allowed a prolonged scrutiny. The one who had singled himself out from the body by common consent, and listened at the door, tapped at it, (E(O) im GOMIIGDOOKS