On the second flight of stairs, whether from fatigue oremotion, the breathing of the visitor began to fail him, andhe leaned against the wall. "Will you begin with this one?"said Baisemeaux; "for since we are going to both, it mattersvery little whether we ascend from the second to the thirdstory, or descend from the third to the second."

"No, no," exclaimed Aramis, eagerly, "higher, if you please;the one above is the more urgent." They continued theirascent. "Ask the jailer for the keys," whispered Aramis.Baisemeaux did so, took the keys, and, himself, opened thedoor of the third room. The jailer was the first to enter;he placed upon the table the provisions, which thekind-hearted governor called dainties, and then left theroom. The prisoner had not stirred; Baisemeaux then entered,while Aramis remained at the threshold, from which place hesaw a youth about eighteen years of age, who, raising hishead at the unusual noise, jumped off the bed, as heperceived the governor, and clasping his hands together,began to cry out, "My mother, my mother," in tones whichbetrayed such deep distress that Aramis, despite his commandover himself, felt a shudder pass through his frame. "Mydear boy," said Baisemeaux, endeavoring to smile, "I havebrought you a diversion and an extra, - the one for themind, the other for the body; this gentleman has come totake your measure, and here are some preserves for yourdessert."

"Oh, monsieur," exclaimed the young man, "keep me insolitude for a year, let me have nothing but bread and waterfor a year, but tell me that at the end of a year I shallleave this place, tell me that at the end of a year I shallsee my mother again."

"But I have heard you say that your mother was very poor,and that you were very badly lodged when you were livingwith her, while here - upon my word!"

"If she were poor, monsieur, the greater reason to restoreher only means of support to her. Badly lodged with her! Oh,monsieur, every one is always well lodged when he is free."

"At all events, since you yourself admit you have donenothing but write that unhappy distich - - "

"But without any intention, I swear. Let me be punished - cut off the hand which wrote it, I will work with the other- but restore my mother to me."

"My boy," said Baisemeaux, "you know very well that it doesnot depend upon me; all I can do for you is to increase yourrations, give you a glass of port wine now and then, slip ina biscuit for you between a couple of plates."

"Great heaven!" exclaimed the young man, falling backwardand rolling on the ground.

Aramis, unable to bear this scene any longer, withdrew asfar as the landing. "Unhappy, wretched man," he murmured.

"Yes, monsieur, he is indeed very wretched," said thejailer; "but it is his parents' fault.

"In what way?"

"No doubt. Why did they let him learn Latin? Too muchknowledge, you see; it is that which does harm. Now I, forinstance, can't read or write, and therefore I am not inprison." Aramis looked at the man, who seemed to think thatbeing a jailer in the Bastile was not being in prison. Asfor Baisemeaux, noticing the little effect produced by hisadvice and his port wine, he left the dungeon quite upset."You have forgotten to close the door," said the jailer.

"So I have," said Baisemeaux, "there are the keys, do you doit."

"I will solicit the pardon of that poor boy," said Aramis.

"And if you do not succeed," said Baisemeaux, "at least begthat he may be transferred to the ten-franc list, by whichboth he and I shall be gainers."

"If the other prisoner calls out for his mother in a similarmanner," said Aramis, "I prefer not to enter at all, butwill take my measure from outside."

"No fear of that, monsieur architect, the one we are nowgoing to see is as gentle as a lamb; before he could callafter his mother he must open his lips, and he never says aword."

"Let us go in, then," said Aramis, gloomily.

"Are you the architect of the prisons, monsieur?" said thejailer.

"I am."

"It is odd, then, that you are not more accustomed to allthis."

Aramis perceived that, to avoid giving rise to anysuspicions he must summon all his strength of mind to hisassistance. Baisemeaux, who carried the keys, opened thedoor. "Stay outside," he said to the jailer, "and wait forus at the bottom of the steps." The jailer obeyed andwithdrew.

Baisemeaux entered first and opened the second door himself.By the light which filtered through the iron-barred window,could be seen a handsome young man, short in stature, withclosely cut hair, and a beard beginning to grow; he wassitting on a stool, his elbow resting on an armchair, andall the upper part of his body reclining against it. Hisdress, thrown upon the bed, was of rich black velvet, and heinhaled the fresh air which blew in upon his breast througha shirt of the very finest cambric. As the governor entered,the young man turned his head with a look full ofindifference; and on recognizing Baisemeaux, he arose andsaluted him courteously. But when his eyes fell upon Aramis,who remained in the background, the latter trembled, turnedpale, and his hat, which he held in his hand, fell upon theground, as if all his muscles had become relaxed at once.Baisemeaux, habituated to the presence of his prisoner, didnot seem to share any of the sensations which Aramisexperienced, but, with all the zeal of a good servant, hebusied himself in arranging on the table the pasty andcrawfish he had brought with him. Occupied in this manner,he did not remark how disturbed his guest had become. Whenhe had finished, however, he turned to the young prisonerand said: "You are looking very well, - are you so?"

"Quite well, I thank you, monsieur," replied the young man.

The effect of the voice was such as almost to overpowerAramis, and notwithstanding his control over himself, headvanced a few steps towards him, with his eyes wide openand his lips trembling. The movement he made was so markedthat Baisemeaux, notwithstanding his preoccupation, observedit. "This gentleman is an architect who has come to examineyour chimney," said Baisemeaux, "does it smoke?"

"Never, monsieur."

"You were saying just now," said the governor, rubbing hishands together, "that it was not possible for a man to behappy in prison; here, however, is one who is so. You havenothing to complain of, I hope?"

"Nothing."

"Do you ever feel weary?" said Aramis.

"Never."

"Ha, ha," said Baisemeaux, in a low tone of voice; "was Iright?"

"Well, my dear governor, it is impossible not to yield toevidence. Is it allowed to put any question to him?"

"As many as you like."

"Very well; be good enough to ask him if he knows why he ishere."

"This gentleman requests me to ask you," said Baisemeaux,"if you are aware of the cause of your imprisonment?"

"No, monsieur," said the young man, unaffectedly, "I amnot."

"That is hardly possible," said Aramis, carried away by hisfeelings in spite of himself; "if you were really ignorantof the cause of your detention, you would be furious."

"I was so during the early days of my imprisonment."

"Why are you not so now?"

"Because I have reflected."

"That is strange," said Aramis.

"Is it not odd?" said Baisemeaux.

"May one venture to ask you, monsieur, on what you havereflected?"

"I felt that as I had committed no crime, Heaven could notpunish me."

"What is a prison, then," inquired Aramis, "if it be not apunishment?"

"Alas! I cannot tell, said the young man; "all that I cantell you now is the very opposite of what I felt seven yearsago."

"To hear you converse, to witness your resignation, onemight almost believe that you liked your imprisonment?"

"I endure it.

"In the certainty of recovering your freedom some day, Isuppose?"

"I have no certainty; hope I have, and that is all; and yetI acknowledge that this hope becomes less every day."

"Still, why should you not again be free, since you havealready been so?"

"That is precisely the reason," replied the young man,"which prevents me expecting liberty; why should I have beenimprisoned at all if it had been intended to release meafterwards?"

"How old are you?"

"I do not know."

"What is your name?"

"I have forgotten the name by which I was called."

"Who are your parents?"

"I never knew them."

"But those who brought you up?"

"They did not call me their son."

"Did you ever love any one before coming here?"

"I loved my nurse, and my flowers."

"Was that all?"

"I also loved my valet."

"Do you regret your nurse and your valet?"

"I wept very much when they died."

"Did they die since you have been here, or before you came?"

"They died the evening before I was carried off."

"Both at the same time?"

"Yes, both at the same time."

"In what manner were you carried off?"

"A man came for me, directed me to get into a carriage,which was closed and locked, and brought me here."

"Would you be able to recognize that man again?"

"He was masked."

"Is not this an extraordinary tale?" said Baisemeaux, in alow tone of voice, to Aramis, who could hardly breathe.

"It is indeed extraordinary," he murmured.

"But what is still more extraordinary is, that he has nevertold me so much as he has just told you."

"Perhaps the reason may be that you have never questionedhim," said Aramis.

"It's possible," replied Baisemeaux; "I have no curiosity.Have you looked at the room? it's a fine one, is it not?"

"Very much so."

"A carpet - - "

"Beautiful."

"I'll wager he had nothing like it before he came here."

"I think so, too." And then again turning towards the youngman, he said, "Do you not remember to have been visited atsome time or another by a strange lady or gentleman?"

"Yes, indeed; thrice by a woman, who each time came to thedoor in a carriage, and entered covered with a veil, whichshe raised when we were together and alone."

"Do you remember that woman?"

"Yes."

"What did she say to you?"

The young man smiled mournfully, and then replied, "Sheinquired, as you have just done, if I were happy, and if Iwere getting weary?"

"What did she do on arriving, and on leaving you?"

"She pressed me in her arms, held me in her embrace, andkissed me."

"Do you remember her?"

"Perfectly."

"Do you recall her features distinctly?"

"Yes."

"You would recognize her, then, if accident brought herbefore you, or led you into her presence?"

"Most certainly."

A flush of fleeting satisfaction passed across Aramis'sface. At this moment Baisemeaux heard the jailerapproaching. "Shall we leave?" he said, hastily, to Aramis.

Aramis, who probably had learnt all that he cared to know,replied, "When you like."

The young man saw them prepare to leave, and saluted thempolitely. Baisemeaux replied merely by a nod of the head,while Aramis, with a respect, arising perhaps from the sightof such misfortune, saluted the prisoner profoundly. Theyleft the room, Baisemeaux closing the door behind them.

"Well," said Baisemeaux, as they descended the staircase,"what do you think of it all?"

"I have discovered the secret, my dear governor," he said.

"Bah! what is the secret, then?"

"A murder was committed in that house."

"Nonsense."

"But attend; the valet and nurse died the same day."

"Well."

"And by poison. What do you think?"

"That it is very likely to be true."

"What! that that young man is an assassin?"

"Who said that? What makes you think that poor young fellowcould be an assassin?"

"The very thing I was saying. A crime was committed in hishouse," said Aramis, "and that was quite sufficient; perhapshe saw the criminals, and it was feared that he might saysomething."

"The deuce! if I only thought that - - "

"Well?"

"I would redouble the surveillance."

"Oh, he does not seem to wish to escape."

"You do not know what prisoners are."

"Has he any books?"

"None; they are strictly prohibited, and under M. deMazarin's own hand."

"Have you the writing still?"

"Yes, my lord; would you like to look at it as you return totake your cloak?

"I should, for I like to look at autographs."

"Well, then, this one is of the most unquestionableauthenticity; there is only one erasure."

"Ah, ah! an erasure; and in what respect?"

"With respect to a figure. At first there was written: `Tobe boarded at fifty francs.'"

"As princes of the blood, in fact?"

"But the cardinal must have seen his mistake, youunderstand; for he canceled the zero, and has added a onebefore the five. But, by the by - - "

"What?"

"You do not speak of the resemblance."

"I do not speak of it, dear M. de Baisemeaux, for a verysimple reason - because it does not exist."

"The deuce it doesn't."

"Or, if it does exist, it is only in your own imagination;but, supposing it were to exist elsewhere, I think it wouldbe better for you not to speak about it."

"Really."

"The king, Louis XIV. - you understand - would beexcessively angry with you, if he were to learn that youcontributed in any way to spread the report that one of hissubjects has the effrontery to resemble him."

"It is true, quite true," said Baisemeaux, thoroughlyalarmed; "but I have not spoken of the circumstance to anyone but yourself, and you understand, monseigneur, that Iperfectly rely on your discretion."

"Oh, be easy."

"Do you still wish to see the note?"

"Certainly."

While engaged in this manner in conversation, they hadreturned to the governor's apartments; Baisemeaux took fromthe cupboard a private register, like the one he had alreadyshown Aramis, but fastened by a lock, the key which openedit being one of a small bunch of keys which Baisemeauxalways carried with him. Then placing the book upon thetable, he opened it at the letter "M," and showed Aramis thefollowing note in the column of observations: "No books atany time; all linen and clothes of the finest and bestquality to be procured; no exercise; always the same jailer;no communications with any one. Musical instruments; everyliberty and every indulgence which his welfare may require,to be boarded at fifteen francs. M. de Baisemeaux can claimmore if the fifteen francs be not sufficient."

"Ah," said Baisemeaux, "now I think of it, I shall claimit."

Aramis shut the book. "Yes," he said, "it is indeed M. deMazarin's handwriting; I recognize it well. Now, my deargovernor," he continued, as if this last communication hadexhausted his interest, "let us now turn to our own littleaffairs."

"Well, what time for repayment do you wish me to take? Fixit yourself."

"There need not be any particular period fixed; give me asimple acknowledgment for one hundred and fifty thousandfrancs."

"When to be made payable?"

"When I require it; but, you understand, I shall only wishit when you yourself do."

"Oh, I am quite easy on that score," said Baisemeaux,smiling; "but I have already given you two receipts."

"Which I now destroy," said Aramis; and after having shownthe two receipts to Baisemeaux, he destroyed them. Overcomeby so great a mark of confidence, Baisemeaux unhesitatinglywrote out an acknowledgment of a debt of one hundred andfifty thousand francs, payable at the pleasure of theprelate. Aramis, who had, by glancing over the governor'sshoulder, followed the pen as he wrote, put theacknowledgment into his pocket without seeming to have readit, which made Baisemeaux perfectly easy. "Now," saidAramis, "you will not be angry with me if I were to carryoff one of your prisoners?"

"What do you mean?"

"By obtaining his pardon, of course. Have I not already toldyou that I took a great interest in poor Seldon?"

"Yes, quite true, you did so."

"Well?"

"That is your affair; do as you think proper. I see you havean open hand, and an arm that can reach a great way."

"Adieu, adieu." And Aramis left, carrying with him thegovernor's best wishes.