Chapter VII. Another Supper at the Bastile.

by Alexandre Dumas

  Seven o'clock sounded from the great clock of the Bastile, that famousclock, which, like all the accessories of the state prison, the very useof which is a torture, recalled to the prisoners' minds the destinationof every hour of their punishment. The time-piece of the Bastile,adorned with figures, like most of the clocks of the period, representedSt. Peter in bonds. It was the supper hour of the unfortunate captives.The doors, grating on their enormous hinges, opened for the passage ofthe baskets and trays of provisions, the abundance and the delicacy ofwhich, as M. de Baisemeaux has himself taught us, was regulated by thecondition in life of the prisoner. We understand on this head thetheories of M. de Baisemeaux, sovereign dispenser of gastronomicdelicacies, head cook of the royal fortress, whose trays, full-laden,were ascending the steep staircases, carrying some consolation to theprisoners in the shape of honestly filled bottles of good vintages. Thissame hour was that of M. le gouverneur's supper also. He had a guest to-day, and the spit turned more heavily than usual. Roast partridges,flanked with quails and flanking a larded leveret; boiled fowls; hams,fried and sprinkled with white wine, cardons of Guipuzcoa and labisque ecrevisses: these, together with soups and hors d'oeuvres,constituted the governor's bill of fare. Baisemeaux, seated at table,was rubbing his hands and looking at the bishop of Vannes, who, bootedlike a cavalier, dressed in gray and sword at side, kept talking of hishunger and testifying the liveliest impatience. M. de Baisemeaux deMontlezun was not accustomed to the unbending movements of his greatnessmy lord of Vannes, and this evening Aramis, becoming sprightly,volunteered confidence on confidence. The prelate had again a littletouch of the musketeer about him. The bishop just trenched on theborders only of license in his style of conversation. As for M. deBaisemeaux, with the facility of vulgar people, he gave himself upentirely upon this point of his guest's freedom. "Monsieur," said he,"for indeed to-night I dare not call you monseigneur.""By no means," said Aramis; "call me monsieur; I am booted.""Do you know, monsieur, of whom you remind me this evening?""No! faith," said Aramis, taking up his glass; "but I hope I remind youof a capital guest.""You remind me of two, monsieur. Francois, shut the window; the wind mayannoy his greatness.""And let him go," added Aramis. "The supper is completely served, and weshall eat it very well without waiters. I like exceedingly to be tete-a-tete when I am with a friend." Baisemeaux bowed respectfully."I like exceedingly," continued Aramis, "to help myself.""Retire, Francois," cried Baisemeaux. "I was saying that your greatnessputs me in mind of two persons; one very illustrious, the late cardinal,the great Cardinal de la Rochelle, who wore boots like you.""Indeed," said Aramis; "and the other?""The other was a certain musketeer, very handsome, very brave, veryadventurous, very fortunate, who, from being abbe, turned musketeer, andfrom musketeer turned abbe." Aramis condescended to smile. "From abbe,"continued Baisemeaux, encouraged by Aramis's smile - "from abbe, bishop- and from bishop - ""Ah! stay there, I beg," exclaimed Aramis."I have just said, monsieur, that you gave me the idea of a cardinal.""Enough, dear M. Baisemeaux. As you said, I have on the boots of acavalier, but I do not intend, for all that, to embroil myself with thechurch this evening.""But you have wicked intentions, nevertheless, monseigneur.""Oh, yes, wicked, I own, as everything mundane is.""You traverse the town and the streets in disguise?""In disguise, as you say.""And you still make use of your sword?""Yes, I should think so; but only when I am compelled. Do me thepleasure to summon Francois.""Have you no wine there?""'Tis not for wine, but because it is hot here, and the window is shut.""I shut the windows at supper-time so as not to hear the sounds or thearrival of couriers.""Ah, yes. You hear them when the window is open?""But too well, and that disturbs me. You understand?""Nevertheless I am suffocated. Francois." Francois entered. "Open thewindows, I pray you, Master Francois," said Aramis. "You will allow him,dear M. Baisemeaux?""You are at home here," answered the governor. The window was opened."Do you not think," said M. de Baisemeaux, "that you will find yourselfvery lonely, now M. de la Fere has returned to his household gods atBlois? He is a very old friend, is he not?""You know it as I do, Baisemeaux, seeing that you were in the musketeerswith us.""Bah! with my friends I reckon neither bottles of wine nor years.""And you are right. But I do more than love M. de la Fere, dearBaisemeaux; I venerate him.""Well, for my part, though 'tis singular," said the governor, "I preferM. d'Artagnan to him. There is a man for you, who drinks long and well!That kind of people allow you at least to penetrate their thoughts.""Baisemeaux, make me tipsy to-night; let us have a merry time of it as ofold, and if I have a trouble at the bottom of my heart, I promise you,you shall see it as you would a diamond at the bottom of your glass.""Bravo!" said Baisemeaux, and he poured out a great glass of wine anddrank it off at a draught, trembling with joy at the idea of being, byhook or by crook, in the secret of some high archiepiscopal misdemeanor.While he was drinking he did not see with what attention Aramis wasnoting the sounds in the great court. A courier came in about eighto'clock as Franois brought in the fifth bottle, and, although thecourier made a great noise, Baisemeaux heard nothing."The devil take him," said Aramis."What! who?" asked Baisemeaux. "I hope 'tis neither the wine you dranknor he who is the cause of your drinking it.""No; it is a horse, who is making noise enough in the court for a wholesquadron.""Pooh! some courier or other," replied the governor, redoubling hisattention to the passing bottle. "Yes; and may the devil take him, andso quickly that we shall never hear him speak more. Hurrah! hurrah!""You forget me, Baisemeaux! my glass is empty," said Aramis, lifting hisdazzling Venetian goblet."Upon my honor, you delight me. Francois, wine!" Francois entered."Wine, fellow! and better.""Yes, monsieur, yes; but a courier has just arrived.""Let him go to the devil, I say.""Yes, monsieur, but - ""Let him leave his news at the office; we will see to it to-morrow. To-morrow, there will be time to-morrow; there will be daylight," saidBaisemeaux, chanting the words."Ah, monsieur," grumbled the soldier Francois, in spite of himself,"monsieur.""Take care," said Aramis, "take care!""Of what? dear M. d'Herblay," said Baisemeaux, half intoxicated."The letter which the courier brings to the governor of a fortress issometimes an order.""Nearly always.""Do not orders issue from the ministers?""Yes, undoubtedly; but - ""And what to these ministers do but countersign the signature of theking?""Perhaps you are right. Nevertheless, 'tis very tiresome when you aresitting before a good table, tete-a-tete with a friend - Ah! I beg yourpardon, monsieur; I forgot it is I who engage you at supper, and that Ispeak to a future cardinal.""Let us pass over that, dear Baisemeaux, and return to our soldier, toFrancois.""Well, and what has Francois done?""He has demurred!""He was wrong, then?""However, he has demurred, you see; 'tis because there is somethingextraordinary in this matter. It is very possible that it was notFrancois who was wrong in demurring, but you, who are in the wrong innot listening to him.""Wrong? I to be wrong before Francois? that seems rather hard.""Pardon me, merely an irregularity. But I thought it my duty to make anobservation which I deem important.""Oh! perhaps you are right," stammered Baisemeaux. "The king's order issacred; but as to orders that arrive when one is at supper, I repeat thatthe devil - ""If you had said as much to the great cardinal - hem! my dear Baisemeaux,and if his order had any importance.""I do it that I may not disturb a bishop. Mordioux! am I not, then,excusable?""Do not forget, Baisemeaux, that I have worn the soldier's coat, and I amaccustomed to obedience everywhere.""You wish, then - ""I wish that you would do your duty, my friend; yes, at least before thissoldier.""'Tis mathematically true," exclaimed Baisemeaux. Francois still waited:"Let them send this order of the king's up to me," he repeated,recovering himself. And he added in a low tone, "Do you know what itis? I will tell you something about as interesting as this. 'Beware offire near the powder magazine;' or, 'Look close after such and such aone, who is clever at escaping,' Ah! if you only knew, monseigneur, howmany times I have been suddenly awakened from the very sweetest, deepestslumber, by messengers arriving at full gallop to tell me, or rather,bring me a slip of paper containing these words: 'Monsieur de Baisemeaux,what news?' 'Tis clear enough that those who waste their time writingsuch orders have never slept in the Bastile. They would know better;they have never considered the thickness of my walls, the vigilance of myofficers, the number of rounds we go. But, indeed, what can you expect,monseigneur? It is their business to write and torment me when I am atrest, and to trouble me when I am happy," added Baisemeaux, bowing toAramis. "Then let them do their business.""And do you do yours," added the bishop, smiling.Francois re-entered; Baisemeaux took from his hands the minister'sorder. He slowly undid it, and as slowly read it. Aramis pretended tobe drinking, so as to be able to watch his host through the glass. Then,Baisemeaux, having read it: "What was I just saying?" he exclaimed."What is it?" asked the bishop."An order of release! There, now; excellent news indeed to disturb us!""Excellent news for him whom it concerns, you will at least agree, mydear governor!""And at eight o'clock in the evening!""It is charitable!""Oh! charity is all very well, but it is for that fellow who says he isso weary and tired, but not for me who am amusing myself," saidBaisemeaux, exasperated."Will you lose by him, then? And is the prisoner who is to be set atliberty a good payer?""Oh, yes, indeed! a miserable, five-franc rat!""Let me see it," asked M. d'Herblay. "It is no indiscretion?""By no means; read it.""There is 'Urgent,' on the paper; you have seen that, I suppose?""Oh, admirable! 'Urgent!' - a man who has been there ten years! It isurgent to set him free to-day, this very evening, at eight o'clock! -urgent!" And Baisemeaux, shrugging his shoulders with an air ofsupreme disdain, flung the order on the table and began eating again."They are fond of these tricks!" he said, with his mouth full; "theyseize a man, some fine day, keep him under lock and key for ten years,and write to you, 'Watch this fellow well,' or 'Keep him very strictly.'And then, as soon as you are accustomed to look upon the prisoner as adangerous man, all of a sudden, without rhyme or reason they write - 'Sethim at liberty,' and actually add to their missive - 'urgent.' You willown, my lord, 'tis enough to make a man at dinner shrug his shoulders!""What do you expect? It is for them to write," said Aramis, "for you toexecute the order.""Good! good! execute it! Oh, patience! You must not imagine that I am aslave.""Gracious Heaven! my very good M. Baisemeaux, who ever said so? Yourindependence is well known.""Thank Heaven!""But your goodness of heart is also known.""Ah! don't speak of it!""And your obedience to your superiors. Once a soldier, you see,Baisemeaux, always a soldier.""And I shall directly obey; and to-morrow morning, at daybreak, theprisoner referred to shall be set free.""To-morrow?""At dawn.""Why not this evening, seeing that the lettre de cachet bears, both onthe direction and inside, 'urgent'?""Because this evening we are at supper, and our affairs are urgent, too!""Dear Baisemeaux, booted though I be, I feel myself a priest, and charityhas higher claims upon me than hunger and thirst. This unfortunate manhas suffered long enough, since you have just told me that he has beenyour prisoner these ten years. Abridge his suffering. His good time hascome; give him the benefit quickly. God will repay you in Paradise withyears of felicity.""You wish it?""I entreat you.""What! in the very middle of our repast?""I implore you; such an action is worth ten Benedicites.""It shall be as you desire, only our supper will get cold.""Oh! never heed that."Baisemeaux leaned back to ring for Francois, and by a very natural motionturned round towards the door. The order had remained on the table;Aramis seized the opportunity when Baisemeaux was not looking to changethe paper for another, folded in the same manner, which he drew swiftlyfrom his pocket. "Francois," said the governor, "let the major come uphere with the turnkeys of the Bertaudiere." Francois bowed and quittedthe room, leaving the two companions alone.


Previous Authors:Chapter VI. The Bee-Hive, the Bees, and the Honey. Next Authors:Chapter VIII. The General of the Order.
Copyright 2023-2025 - www.zzdbook.com All Rights Reserved