The musketeer at
once set to work. Fowls, fish, and pates disappeared before him.
Perigord sighed as he witnessed the devastations. Only once the
stranger paused.
"Wine!" Perigord brought wine. The stranger drank a dozen
bottles. Finally he rose to depart. Turning to the expectant
landlord, he said:--
"Charge it."
"To whom, your highness?" said Perigord, anxiously.
"To his Eminence!"
"Mazarin!" ejaculated the innkeeper.
"The same. Bring me my horse," and the musketeer, remounting his
favorite animal, rode away.
The innkeeper slowly turned back into the inn. Scarcely had he
reached the courtyard before the clatter of hoofs again called him
to the doorway. A young musketeer of a light and graceful figure
rode up.
"Parbleu, my dear Perigord, I am famishing. What have you got for
dinner?"
"Venison, capons, larks, and pigeons, your excellency," replied the
obsequious landlord, bowing to the ground.
"Enough!" The young musketeer dismounted and entered the inn.
Seating himself at the table replenished by the careful Perigord,
he speedily swept it as clean as the first comer.
"Some wine, my brave Perigord," said the graceful young musketeer,
as soon as he could find utterance.
Pages:
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75