D'Artagnan, the King Maker — page 304: what you’re looking at

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

WHA PTERVXX XVI AS THE KNIGHT, SO HIS SQUIRE. Donna Jacinta lingered at the corner to see that she was not pursued; on the contrary, one of the courtiers called in the militiaman. She ‘hastened, then, to com- municate with the Brothers of the Coast, interspersed with the citizens, and notify Don Juan to change his des- tination. About the same time D’Artagnan dressed himself, with little attention to strictness, in the special suit which he found. Unlike Porthos’ purchase from the beadle, his Suit was easy, but, on the whole, was a fit. Besides, the trimmings aided the illusion of royalty. It was an Utrecht velvet, lustrous in its black dye, spangled with jet and pointed with crystal drops, tipped with pearls; in the saffron beaver, with one flap looped up with a gem, floated noble ostrich and heron plumes; the gold spurs were large, in the Portuguese fashion; the baldric was white leather mounted on silk ribbon; a sash was of scarlet and gold thread. He left the ornamental sword in the chased, beaten gold scabbard, content to hang ‘his own under his left armpit. The full cloak of ruby velvet, fringed with gold, concealed this and’ half his person. He looked at the pistol of which he had relieved Jacinta, and smiled. “I saw it was not primed; but it is not loaded! Oh, those women have faith; an empty pistol should kill, in their hands!’ He looked himself over. “By my fay! Porthos and I have shed’ our cocoons, and I believe he would envy me!” As he stepped out of the cabinet, a soldier was enter- ing the larger room. He had his sword drawn. “Duke, your sword,” said this man, bluntly and yet with respect. The honor thrust upon him made him tremble. Gomicbooks (€(0)