D'Artagnan, the King Maker — page 300: what you’re looking at

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

The Marplot. 281 “Oh, you allude to the male bird ?” “To the duke! The only way for him to enter my trap, since the other door is in the house of an avowed royalist, is here, where you and your friends are on guard—old friends and ancient adherents whom he could not suspect to betray ‘him !” “No, he would not suspect that,’ said the traitor, dreamily. ‘Then the game is in our hands. That is, I have the duchess. You, the duke. It seems to me that we—that is, | and your league—can make fine terms with either the Madridlenese or the Lisbonese.”’ t. ‘Why with either?” “It is plain. The latter want a king and queen; the other, these usurpers. I will treat with the Lisbonese for their desires. You, with the Philipists for theirs. The higher price wins. You are count—you can be marquis! I am a captain of fortune—I shall be a fortuned captain! This is saying nothing of our friends. If yours are em- barrassing, sell them in the bulk to the Spanish, while I sell my Joseph—that is, Jorge—to the Portuguese a “Upon my word, sir, such audacity!’ “Sapere aude! Audacity is wise!” “I—I must consult with my friends,” faltered the count. It is evident that the feared this proposition coming from one whose daring appalled him. He was turning to flee—to call his friends. There was not a moment to be lost; but before he could be run through, whatever the musketeer’s celerity, he would send up an outcry. To the surprise but happy relief of the Frenchman, he suddenly saw the secret door behind the count fly open. In the aperture appeared Donna Jacinta, who was carrying a fine pistol. Appreciating the situation, from having been listening, she clapped this to the head of the Portuguese, and he, hearing the click of the door, slightly revolved his head. In consternation, his opening mouth let out not even a breath. With the rapidty of lightning, D’ Artagnan stuffed his own cravat into ‘his mouth, laid hands on him, disarmed him, bound ‘him with his sword belt and scarf, and rolled him under a divan in the corner. Gomichookssco