D'Artagnan, the King Maker — page 311: what you’re looking at

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

292 The Last Card. “Oh! the count ?—to be sure, if he is at hand “Oh! he is a fanatic—a Brutus who would sacrifice his own table-guest. I speak of a soldier—that civic guardsman who let you in. Your jeremiads softened his heart. There was a squire who disguised himself as a minstrel to reach his lord prisoned in a castle—but, save us! had he caterwauled like you, the sentinels would have stuck him full of quarrels from their cross-bows like my lady’s pincushion.” “Tf I had not bellowed, they would not have let me sleep, on the condition of silence. But since you have re- vived my courage, I will notify the king—since he is made king by this time—where his shadow is. Nails and hammer! we will release you.”’ “Wait! you are not released yourself.” “Kh pe “This wears the semblance of our being fellow-prison- ers here.” “A prison of canvas.” “Ah! but there are civic guards outside.” “A fig for the townsmen!” bP “And Spanish pikemen outside them again. Now, like you, I detest having handsome clothes spoiled in a chance encounter.”’ “Bought out of the fort they could have held a year, we can bend their pikes of lead, and their muskets are choked with their Judas silver.” “They were bought out, but not to lay down their arms. That is another bargain. Perhaps Soleiman is not pres- ent to make it. A bout of two to ten thousand, and we shall not return whole to France, and in glory mundane.” “That is true. The Spanish fight well—foot to foot.” “So I have made up my mind, since I am king for a day, to have all the honors. As we Gascons say: ‘A diac andiro’—let us do all things grandly! I shall enter my royal capital triumphantly !” “This tinsel crown has turned the man’s head, though of copper,’ said Porthos, sadly. “That would please my brother, Pedro, who said that I was not rated up to my value.” “You are mad!” “It is plain that no knight is a hero to his squire. But 4 Eomichbooks:com