governor, whereupon the sentinel called to an officer of
lower grade, who was walking about in a tolerably spacious
courtyard and who, in turn, on being informed of his object,
ran to seek one of the officers of the governor’s staff. The
latter, after having listened to Aramis’s request, begged
him to wait a moment, then went away a short distance, but
returned to ask his name. “I cannot tell it you, monsieur,”
said Aramis, “I need only mention that I have matters of
such importance to communicate to the governor, that I can
only rely beforehand upon one thing, that M. de Baisemeaux
will be delighted to see me; nay, more than that, when you
have told him that it is the person whom he expected on the
first of June, I am convinced he will hasten here himself.”
The officer could not possibly believe that a man of the
governor’s importance should put himself out for a person of
so little importance as the citizen-looking visitor on
horseback. “It happens most fortunately, monsieur,” he said,
“that the governor is just going out, and you can perceive
his carriage with the horses already harnessed, in the
courtyard yonder; there will be no occasion for him to come
to meet you, as he will see you as he passes by.” Aramis
bowed to signify his assent; he did not wish to inspire
others with too exalted an opinion of himself, and therefore
waited patiently and in silence, leaning upon the saddle-bow
of his horse. Ten minutes had hardly elapsed when the
governor’s carriage was observed to move. The governor
appeared at the door, and got into the carriage, which
immediately prepared to start. The same ceremony was
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Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later
observed for the governor himself as with a suspected
stranger; the sentinel at the lodge advanced as the carriage
was about to pass under the arch, and the governor opened
the carriage-door, himself setting the example of obedience
to orders; so that, in this way, the sentinel could convince
himself that no one quitted the Bastile improperly. The
carriage rolled along under the archway, but at the moment
the iron-gate was opened, the officer approached the
carriage, which had been again stopped, and said something
to the governor, who immediately put his head out of the
door-way, and perceived Aramis on horseback at the end of
the drawbridge. He immediately uttered almost a shout of
delight, and got out, or rather darted out of his carriage,
running towards Aramis, whose hands he seized, making a
thousand apologies. He almost embraced him. “What a
difficult matter to enter the Bastile!” said Aramis. “Is it
the same for those who are sent here against their wills, as
for those who come of their own accord?”
“A thousand pardons, my lord. How delighted I am to see your
Grace!”
“Hush! What are you thinking of, my dear M. Baisemeaux? What
do you suppose would be thought of a bishop in my present
costume?”
“Pray, excuse me, I had forgotten. Take this gentleman’s
horse to the stables,” cried Baisemeaux.
“No, no,” said Aramis; “I have five thousand pistoles in the
saddle-bags.”
The governor’s countenance became so radiant, that if the
prisoners had seen him they would have imagined some prince
of the blood royal had arrived. “Yes, you are right, the
horse shall be taken to the government house. Will you get
into the carriage, my dear M. d’Herblay? and it shall take
us back to my house.”
“Get into a carriage to cross a courtyard! do you believe I
am so great an invalid? No, no, we will go on foot.”
Baisemeaux then offered his arm as a support, but the
prelate did not accept it. They arrived in this manner at
the government house, Baisemeaux rubbing his hands and
glancing at the horse from time to time, while Aramis was
looking at the bleak bare walls. A tolerably handsome
vestibule and a staircase of white stone led to the
governor’s apartments, who crossed the ante-chamber, the
dining-room, where breakfast was being prepared, opened a
small side door, and closeted himself with his guest in a
large cabinet, the windows of which opened obliquely upon