27/29 d'Artagnan," said Athos, with a maniacal burst of laughter, "guess what she had on her shoulder." "How can I tell ?" said d'Artagnan. "She was branded." Athos emptied at a single draught the glass he held in his hand. "What do you tell me ?" "Truth, my friend. The angel was a demon; the poor young girl had stolen the sacred vessels from a church." "And what did the count do ?" "The count was of the highest nobility. He had on his estates the rights of high and low tribunals. |