Alexandre Dumas

The Chevalier D'Harmental - Works of Alexandre Dumas

Tfc (IYA5JER-JHARMENTAL. long sword slung in a belt, which bumped ceaselessly against the calves of his legs. Finally, he wore a hat which once had been adorned with a plume and with lace, and which in remembrance, no doubt, of its past splendor its owner had tipped so far over his left ear that it seemed as if it could be kept in place only by a miracle of equilibrium. There was altogether in the countenance and in the carriage and bearing of the man (who seemed from forty to forty-five years of age, and who advanced swaggering and keeping the middle of the road, curling his mustache with one hand, and with the other signing to the carriages to give place) such a character of insolent carelessness that the cavalier who watched him smiled involuntarily as he murmured to himself, I believe this is my man. In view of this probability, he rode straight up to the new-comer, with the evident intention of speaking to him. The latter, though he evidently did not know the cavalier, seeing that he was going to address him, advanced his right foot in the third position, and waited, one hand on his sword and the other on his mustache, to hear what the person who was coming up had to say to him. As the man with the orange ribbon had foreseen, the young cavalier stopped his horse near him, and touching his bat, Monsieur, said he, I think I may conclude, from your appearance and manner, that you are a gentleman; am I mistaken1? No, palsambleu replied he to whom this strange question was addressed, touching his hat in his turn. I am delighted that my appearance speaks so well for me, for however improbable it may seem to you that the title should be mine, you may call me captain. u Iam enchanted to find that you are a soldier, Monsaid the chevalier, bowing again.
(Typographical errors above are due to OCR software and don't occur in the book.)

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