D'Artagnan, the King Maker — page 297: what you’re looking at

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

280 The Marplot. the fort and the walls to the train band, while the officials and the nobles take to the public buildings and mansions to defend, each in his own guise. Don Jorge, for ex- ample, will defend Marianda House. I am his lieutenant to do so.” “A good idea!” “I thought you would approve. Only, as one thing may serve two purposes, I thought that the house, while a castle, might serve another end.” “That is called killing two birds with one stone!” “Oh, I do not want to kill the birds. I shall sell them.” “What birds?” thinking this man was an entertaining but perplexing discourser. “Crested ones! Did you ever see a cat catch birds?” “TI never noticed.”’ “Oh, it is worth noticing to apply the system to catch- ing royal game.” The count frowned, puzzled. “A cat does not rush at a nest and claw at the first head presented!” IN GP “She waits about and catches the ‘little ones as they fall, ripe! Then comes the turn of the parents. But she does not snap at them indiscriminately, either.” “Nig ?”’ “Certainly not! If she were to catch the male first, the female would . ‘Pine at the loss!” “Or fly away for consolation!” ‘Ah bo “So the cat catches the mother bird first, and the mate hovers round looking for it, and falls inte her jaws, fatigued.” “So pie “Ergo, having secured the Duchess of Braganza in my cage—that is, my friend, Count de Marianda’s mansion— “Oh, it 1s you who have spirited away the duchess? That explains all!” “It explains half!” returned the musketeer, smiling graciously. ““The explanation of the other half is, I think, in your ‘hands, dear count!” EomichooksrGeo im