{"product_id":"2940013748903","title":"The King's Passport","description":"Starlight and evening cold, thin snow crisp on the street-\u003cbr\u003estones; Paris in 1640.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHouses etched with snow-white roofs and gables, November\u003cbr\u003ewind sharp, howling up the Seine valley; the dark streets\u003cbr\u003eempty, desolate, unkindly.  Destiny, leading three men to\u003cbr\u003eher crossroads -- three men, noble, prince, commoner.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTo the bridge of Notre Dame came the first man.   He paused\u003cbr\u003ein shelter of the parapet and gazed across  at St. Germain\u003cbr\u003ein shivering indecision, He failed   to see another figure\u003cbr\u003ecome hurrying toward the bridge; the other failed to see\u003cbr\u003ehim there in shadow.  The two men collided sharply.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe man in haste snarled an oath of surprise, of  fright,\u003cbr\u003eof anger. He whipped out a dagger and  lunged furiously at\u003cbr\u003ethe first man. The two grappled, reeled, slipped in the\u003cbr\u003esnow and came down together. Pierced through the heart by\u003cbr\u003ehis own weapon, the assailant lay outsprawled and dead.\u003cbr\u003eBeside him two objects were fallen in the snow -- a heavy\u003cbr\u003epurse, and a rolled document on thick vellum.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe first man knelt, found his assailant dead, picked up\u003cbr\u003ethe two objects, and rose. Abruptly, the desolation gave\u003cbr\u003etongue.  The bridge held voices, bobbing yellow lanterns,\u003cbr\u003earchers of the \"guet,\" the night-watch. No passing toward\u003cbr\u003eSt. Germain now! Turn back to the Cite -- turn, turn\u003cbr\u003eswiftly!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHat pulled low, face muffled, the first man strode away\u003cbr\u003erapidly and yet aimlessly, as one not knowing whither he\u003cbr\u003ewent. Presently he came into a narrow and tortuous street,\u003cbr\u003ethe Rue de Ia Juiverie. Light glimmered ahead, from the\u003cbr\u003ethick-glassed windows of a tavern, whose sign of a pinecone\u003cbr\u003eoverhung the street.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTrampled snow here, heavily marked from the tavern doorway,\u003cbr\u003esign of company lately departed. Peering in at the window,\u003cbr\u003ethe first man saw the place all empty, still faintly blue\u003cbr\u003ewith tobacco smoke. The door swung to his hand. He crossed\u003cbr\u003eto the darkest corner, flung the purse upon the table, and\u003cbr\u003eupon the host's appearance ordered supper at once, a\u003cbr\u003esumptuous supper. Then he unrolled the vellum document and\u003cbr\u003eperused it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDestiny had accomplished its task, had brought the first\u003cbr\u003eman to the place appointed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe second man appeared, meantime, in shadow of the nearby\u003cbr\u003echurch of Ste. Magdaleine. A tall figure, Gascon oaths upon\u003cbr\u003ehis lips, guardman's sash beneath his cloak.  A companion\u003cbr\u003ewas with him.  Two figures in the dim snowy street by the\u003cbr\u003echurch enclosure, pausing, conferring together.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Mordious!\" said the second man.  \"Then the spot suits\u003cbr\u003eyou?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Agreed,\" said the other.  \"Luckily, M. de Cyrano, it is\u003cbr\u003eyour sword I must face and not your nose -- \"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"En garde!\" exclaimed the second man brusquely. \"Brr! Too\u003cbr\u003ecold for long work -- at the third riposte, I warn you. The\u003cbr\u003ethird riposte; remember -- \"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe rasp of rapiers drawn from scabbard, the salute, the\u003cbr\u003esharp click of crossed blades meeting, the sharper ring of\u003cbr\u003esteel against hilt. \"One!\" said the second man.  His\u003cbr\u003ecompanion cursed him. \"Two!\" he said, and then laughed and\u003cbr\u003ebore back under a furious attack.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Three!\"  His companion coughed and fell, pierced through\u003cbr\u003ethe throat.","brand":"WDS Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47165036003568,"sku":"2940013748903","price":2.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940013748903_p0.jpg?v=1763589732","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940013748903","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}