ChapterI:
ThePrisoner。
SinceAramis'ssingulartransformationintoaconfessoroftheorder，Baisemeauxwasnolongerthesameman。？Uptothatperiod，theplacewhichAramishadheldintheworthygovernor'sestimationwasthatofaprelatewhomherespectedandafriendtowhomheowedadebtofgratitude;butnowhefelthimselfaninferior，andthatAramiswashismaster。？Hehimselflightedalantern，summonedaturnkey，andsaid，returningtoAramis，"Iamatyourorders，monseigneur。"？Aramismerelynoddedhishead，asmuchastosay，"Verygood";andsignedtohimwithhishandtoleadtheway。？Baisemeauxadvanced，andAramisfollowedhim。？Itwasacalmandlovelystarlitnight;thestepsofthreemenresoundedontheflagsoftheterraces，andtheclinkingofthekeyshangingfromthejailer'sgirdlemadeitselfhearduptothestoriesofthetowers，asiftoremindtheprisonersthatthelibertyofearthwasaluxurybeyondtheirreach。？ItmighthavebeensaidthatthealterationeffectedinBaisemeauxextendedeventotheprisoners。？Theturnkey，thesamewho，onAramis'sfirstarrivalhadshownhimselfsoinquisitiveandcurious，wasnownotonlysilent，butimpassible。？Heheldhisheaddown，andseemedafraidtokeephisearsopen。？InthiswisetheyreachedthebasementoftheBertaudi鑢e，thetwofirststoriesofwhichweremountedsilentlyandsomewhatslowly;forBaisemeaux，thoughfarfromdisobeying，wasfarfromexhibitinganyeagernesstoobey。？Onarrivingatthedoor，Baisemeauxshowedadispositiontoentertheprisoner'schamber;butAramis，stoppinghimonthethreshold，said，"Therulesdonotallowthegovernortoheartheprisoner'sconfession。"
Baisemeauxbowed，andmadewayforAramis，whotookthelanternandentered;andthensignedtothemtoclosethedoorbehindhim。？Foraninstantheremainedstanding，listeningwhetherBaisemeauxandtheturnkeyhadretired;butassoonashewasassuredbythesoundoftheirdescendingfootstepsthattheyhadleftthetower，heputthelanternonthetableandgazedaround。？Onabedofgreenserge，similarinallrespecttotheotherbedsintheBastile，savethatitwasnewer，andundercurtainshalf—drawn，reposedayoungman，towhomwehavealreadyoncebeforeintroducedAramis。？Accordingtocustom，theprisonerwaswithoutalight。？Atthehourofcurfew，hewasboundtoextinguishhislamp，andweperceivehowmuchhewasfavored，inbeingallowedtokeepitburningeventillthen。？Nearthebedalargeleathernarmchair，withtwistedlegs，sustainedhisclothes。？Alittletable—withoutpens，books，paper，orink—stoodneglectedinsadnessnearthewindow;whileseveralplates，stillunemptied，showedthattheprisonerhadscarcelytouchedhiseveningmeal。？Aramissawthattheyoungmanwasstretcheduponhisbed，hisfacehalfconcealedbyhisarms。？Thearrivalofavisitordidnotcausedanychangeofposition;eitherhewaswaitinginexpectation，orwasasleep。？Aramislightedthecandlefromthelantern，pushedbackthearmchair，andapproachedthebedwithanevidentmixtureofinterestandrespect。？Theyoungmanraisedhishead。？"Whatisit？"saidhe。
"Youdesiredaconfessor？"repliedAramis。
"Yes。"
"Becauseyouwereill？"
"Yes。"
"Veryill？"
TheyoungmangaveAramisapiercingglance，andanswered，"Ithankyou。"？Afteramoment'ssilence，"Ihaveseenyoubefore，"hecontinued。？Aramisbowed。
Doubtlessthescrutinytheprisonerhadjustmadeofthecold，crafty，andimperiouscharacterstampeduponthefeaturesofthebishopofVanneswaslittlereassuringtooneinhissituation，forheadded，"Iambetter。"
"Andso？"saidAramis。
"Why，then—beingbetter，Ihavenolongerthesameneedofaconfessor，I
think。"
"Notevenofthehair—cloth，whichthenoteyoufoundinyourbreadinformedyouof？"
Theyoungmanstarted;butbeforehehadeitherassentedordenied，Aramiscontinued，"Notevenoftheecclesiasticfromwhomyouweretohearanimportantrevelation？"
"Ifitbeso，"saidtheyoungman，sinkingagainonhispillow，"itisdifferent;
Iamlistening。"
Aramisthenlookedathimmoreclosely，andwasstruckwiththeeasymajestyofhismien，onewhichcanneverbeacquiredunlessHeavenhasimplanteditinthebloodorheart。？"Sitdown，monsieur，"saidtheprisoner。
Aramisbowedandobeyed。？"HowdoestheBastileagreewithyou？"askedthebishop。
"Verywell。"
"Youdonotsuffer？"
"No。"
"Youhavenothingtoregret？"
"Nothing。"
"Notevenyourliberty？"
"Whatdoyoucallliberty，monsieur？"askedtheprisoner，withthetoneofamanwhoispreparingforastruggle。
"I
callliberty，theflowers，theair，light，thestars，thehappinessofgoingwhithersoeverthesinewylimbsofone—and—twentychancetowishtocarryyou。"
Theyoungmansmiled，whetherinresignationorcontempt，itwasdifficulttotell。？"Look，"saidhe，"IhaveinthatJapanesevasetworosesgatheredyesterdayeveninginthebudfromthegovernor'sgarden;thismorningtheyhaveblownandspreadtheirvermilionchalicebeneathmygaze;witheveryopeningpetaltheyunfoldthetreasuresoftheirperfumes，fillingmychamberwithafragrancethatembalmsit。？Looknowonthesetworoses;evenamongrosesthesearebeautiful，andtheroseisthemostbeautifulofflowers。？Why，then，doyoubidmedesireotherflowerswhenIpossesstheloveliestofall？"
Aramisgazedattheyoungmaninsurprise。
"Ifflowersconstituteliberty，"
sadlyresumedthecaptive，"Iamfree，forIpossessthem。"
"Buttheair！"criedAramis;"airissonecessarytolife！"
"Well，monsieur，"returnedtheprisoner;"drawneartothewindow;itisopen。？Betweenhighheavenandearththewindwhirlsonitswaftagesofhailandlightning，exhalesitstorridmistorbreathesingentlebreezes。？Itcaressesmyface。？Whenmountedonthebackofthisarmchair，withmyarmaroundthebarsofthewindowtosustainmyself，I
fancyIamswimmingthewideexpansebeforeme。"？ThecountenanceofAramisdarkenedastheyoungmancontinued:"LightIhave！whatisbetterthanlight？？I
havethesun，afriendwhocomestovisitmeeverydaywithoutthepermissionofthegovernororthejailer'scompany。？Hecomesinatthewindow，andtracesinmyroomasquaretheshapeofthewindow，whichlightsupthehangingsofmybedandfloodstheveryfloor。？Thisluminoussquareincreasesfromteno'clocktillmidday，anddecreasesfromonetillthreeslowly，asif，havinghastenedtomypresence，itsorrowedatbiddingmefarewell。？WhenitslastraydisappearsIhaveenjoyeditspresenceforfivehours。？Isnotthatsufficient？？Ihavebeentoldthatthereareunhappybeingswhodiginquarries，andlaborerswhotoilinmines，whoneverbeholditatall。"？Aramiswipedthedropsfromhisbrow。？"Astothestarswhicharesodelightfultoview，"continuedtheyoungman，"theyallresembleeachothersaveinsizeandbrilliancy。？Iamafavoredmortal，forifyouhadnotlightedthatcandleyouwouldhavebeenabletoseethebeautifulstarswhichIwasgazingatfrommycouchbeforeyourarrival，whosesilveryrayswerestealingthroughmybrain。"
Aramisloweredhishead;hefelthimselfoverwhelmedwiththebitterflowofthatsinisterphilosophywhichisthereligionofthecaptive。
"Somuch，then，fortheflowers，theair，thedaylight，andthestars，"
tranquillycontinuedtheyoungman;"thereremainsbutexercise。？DoInotwalkalldayinthegovernor'sgardenifitisfine—hereifitrains？inthefreshairifitiswarm;inperfectwarmth，thankstomywinterstove，ifitbecold？？Ah！monsieur，doyoufancy，"continuedtheprisoner，notwithoutbitterness，"thatmenhavenotdoneeverythingformethatamancanhopeforordesire？"
"Men！"
saidAramis;"beitso;butitseemstomeyouareforgettingHeaven。"
"IndeedIhaveforgottenHeaven，"murmuredtheprisoner，withemotion;"butwhydoyoumentionit？？OfwhatuseisittotalktoaprisonerofHeaven？"
Aramislookedsteadilyatthissingularyouth，whopossessedtheresignationofamartyrwiththesmileofanatheist。？"IsnotHeavenineverything？"hemurmuredinareproachfultone。
"Sayrather，attheendofeverything，"answeredtheprisoner，firmly。
"Beitso，"saidAramis;"butletusreturntoourstarting—point。"
"I
asknothingbetter，"returnedtheyoungman。
"I
amyourconfessor。"
"Yes。"
"Well，then，youought，asapenitent，totellmethetruth。"
"Mywholedesireistotellityou。"
"Everyprisonerhascommittedsomecrimeforwhichhehasbeenimprisoned。？Whatcrime，then，haveyoucommitted？"
"Youaskedmethesamequestionthefirsttimeyousawme，"returnedtheprisoner。
"Andthen，asnowyouevadedgivingmeananswer。"
"AndwhatreasonhaveyouforthinkingthatIshallnowreplytoyou？"
"BecausethistimeIamyourconfessor。"
"ThenifyouwishmetotellwhatcrimeIhavecommitted，explaintomeinwhatacrimeconsists。？Forasmyconsciencedoesnotaccuseme，IaverthatIamnotacriminal。"
"Weareoftencriminalsinthesightofthegreatoftheearth，notaloneforhavingourselvescommittedcrimes，butbecauseweknowthatcrimeshavebeencommitted。"
Theprisonermanifestedthedeepestattention。
"Yes，Iunderstandyou，"hesaid，afterapause;"yes，youareright，monsieur;itisverypossiblethat，insuchalight，Iamacriminalintheeyesofthegreatoftheearth。"
"Ah！
thenyouknowsomething，"saidAramis，whothoughthehadpiercednotmerelythroughadefectintheharness，butthroughthejointsofit。
"No，Iamnotawareofanything，"repliedtheyoungman;"butsometimesI
think—andIsaytomyself—"
"Whatdoyousaytoyourself？"
"ThatifIweretothinkbutalittlemoredeeplyIshouldeithergomadorIshoulddivineagreatdeal。"
"Andthen—andthen？"saidAramis，impatiently。
"ThenIleaveoff。"
"Youleaveoff？"
"Yes;
myheadbecomesconfusedandmyideasmelancholy;Ifeelennuiovertakingme;Iwish—"
"What？"
"I
don'tknow;butIdonotliketogivemyselfuptolongingforthingswhichI
donotpossess，whenIamsohappywithwhatIhave。"
"Youareafraidofdeath？"saidAramis，withaslightuneasiness。
"Yes，"
saidtheyoungman，smiling。
Aramisfeltthechillofthatsmile，andshuddered。？"Oh，asyoufeardeath，youknowmoreaboutmattersthanyousay，"hecried。
"Andyou，"returnedtheprisoner，"whobademetoasktoseeyou;you，who，whenIdidasktoseeyou，cameherepromisingaworldofconfidence;howisitthat，nevertheless，itisyouwhoaresilent，leavingitformetospeak？？Since，then，webothwearmasks，eitherletusbothretainthemorputthemasidetogether。"
Aramisfelttheforceandjusticeoftheremark，sayingtohimself，"Thisisnoordinaryman;Imustbecautious。—Areyouambitious？"saidhesuddenlytotheprisoner，aloud，withoutpreparinghimforthealteration。
"Whatdoyoumeanbyambitious？"repliedtheyouth。
"Ambition，"
repliedAramis，"isthefeelingwhichpromptsamantodesiremore—muchmore—thanhepossesses。"
"I
saidthatIwascontented，monsieur;but，perhaps，Ideceivemyself。？Iamignorantofthenatureofambition;butitisnotimpossibleImayhavesome。？Tellmeyourmind;thatisallIask。"
"Anambitiousman，"saidAramis，"isonewhocovetsthatwhichisbeyondhisstation。"
"I
covetnothingbeyondmystation，"saidtheyoungman，withanassuranceofmannerwhichforthesecondtimemadethebishopofVannestremble。
Hewassilent。？Buttolookatthekindlingeye，theknittedbrow，andthereflectiveattitudeofthecaptive，itwasevidentthatheexpectedsomethingmorethansilence，—asilencewhichAramisnowbroke。？"YouliedthefirsttimeIsawyou，"saidhe。
"Lied！"
criedtheyoungman，startinguponhiscouch，withsuchatoneinhisvoice，andsuchalightninginhiseyes，thatAramisrecoiled，inspiteofhimself。
"Ishouldsay，"returnedAramis，bowing，"youconcealedfrommewhatyouknewofyourinfancy。"
"A
man'ssecretsarehisown，monsieur，"retortedtheprisoner，"andnotatthemercyofthefirstchance—comer。"
"True，"
saidAramis，bowingstilllowerthanbefore，"'tistrue;pardonme，butto—daydoIstilloccupytheplaceofachance—comer？？Ibeseechyoutoreply，monseigneur。"
Thistitleslightlydisturbedtheprisoner;butneverthelesshedidnotappearastonishedthatitwasgivenhim。？"Idonotknowyou，monsieur，"saidhe。
"Oh，butifIdared，Iwouldtakeyourhandandkissit！"
TheyoungmanseemedasifheweregoingtogiveAramishishand;butthelightwhichbeamedinhiseyesfadedaway，andhecoldlyanddistrustfullywithdrewhishandagain。？"Kissthehandofaprisoner，"hesaid，shakinghishead，"towhatpurpose？"
"Whydidyoutellme，"saidAramis，"thatyouwerehappyhere？？Why，thatyouaspiredtonothing？？Why，inaword，bythusspeaking，doyoupreventmefrombeingfrankinmyturn？"
Thesamelightshoneathirdtimeintheyoungman'seyes，butdiedineffectuallyawayasbefore。
"Youdistrustme，"saidAramis。
"Andwhysayyouso，monsieur？"
"Oh，foraverysimplereason;ifyouknowwhatyououghttoknow，yououghttomistrusteverybody。"
"ThendonotbeastonishedthatIammistrustful，sinceyoususpectmeofknowingwhatIdonotknow。"
Aramiswasstruckwithadmirationatthisenergeticresistance。？"Oh，monseigneur！youdrivemetodespair，"saidhe，strikingthearmchairwithhisfist。
"And，onmypart，Idonotcomprehendyou，monsieur。"
"Well，then，trytounderstandme。"？TheprisonerlookedfixedlyatAramis。
"Sometimesitseemstome，"saidthelatter，"thatIhavebeforemethemanwhomIseek，andthen—"
"Andthenyourmandisappears，—isitnotso？"saidtheprisoner，smiling。？"Somuchthebetter。"
Aramisrose。？"Certainly，"saidhe;
"Ihavenothingfurthertosaytoamanwhomistrustsmeasyoudo。"
"AndI，monsieur，"saidtheprisoner，inthesametone，"havenothingtosaytoamanwhowillnotunderstandthataprisoneroughttobemistrustfulofeverybody。"
"Evenofhisoldfriends，"saidAramis。？"Oh，monseigneur，youaretooprudent！"
"Ofmyoldfriends？—youoneofmyoldfriends，—you？"
"Doyounolongerremember，"saidAramis，"thatyouoncesaw，inthevillagewhereyourearlyyearswerespent—"
"Doyouknowthenameofthevillage？"askedtheprisoner。
"Noisy—le—Sec，monseigneur，"
answeredAramis，firmly。
"Goon，"saidtheyoungman，withanimmovableaspect。
"Stay，monseigneur，"saidAramis;"ifyouarepositivelyresolvedtocarryonthisgame，letusbreakoff。？Iamheretotellyoumanythings，'tistrue;butyoumustallowmetoseethat，onyourside，youhaveadesiretoknowthem。？BeforerevealingtheimportantmattersIstillwithhold，beassuredIaminneedofsomeencouragement，ifnotcandor;alittlesympathy，ifnotconfidence。？Butyoukeepyourselfintrenchedinapretendedwhichparalyzesme。？Oh，notforthereasonyouthink;for，ignorantasyoumaybe，orindifferentasyoufeigntobe，youarenonethelesswhatyouare，monseigneur，andthereisnothing—nothing，markme！whichcancauseyounottobeso。"
"I
promiseyou，"repliedtheprisoner，"tohearyouwithoutimpatience。？OnlyitappearstomethatIhavearighttorepeatthequestionIhavealreadyasked，'Whoareyou？'"
"Doyouremember，fifteenoreighteenyearsago，seeingatNoisy—le—Secacavalier，accompaniedbyaladyinblacksilk，withflame—coloredribbonsinherhair？"
"Yes，"
saidtheyoungman;"Ionceaskedthenameofthiscavalier，andtheytoldmethathecalledhimselftheAbb？d'Herblay。？Iwasastonishedthattheabb？hadsowarlikeanair，andtheyrepliedthattherewasnothingsingularinthat，seeingthathewasoneofLouisXIII。'smusketeers";
"Well，"
saidAramis，"thatmusketeerandabb？afterwardsbishopofVannes，isyourconfessornow";
"I
knowit;Irecognizedyou。"
"Then，monseigneur，ifyouknowthat，Imustfurtheraddafactofwhichyouareignorant—thatifthekingweretoknowthiseveningofthepresenceofthismusketeer，thisabb？thisbishop，thisconfessor，here—he，whohasriskedeverythingtovisityou，to—morrowwouldbeholdthesteelyglitteroftheexecutioner'saxeinadungeonmoregloomy，moreobscurethanyours。"
Whilelisteningtothesewords，deliveredwithemphasis，theyoungmanhadraisedhimselfonhiscouch，andwasnowgazingmoreandmoreeagerlyatAramis。
Theresultofhisscrutinywasthatheappearedtoderivesomeconfidencefromit。？"Yes，"hemurmured，"Irememberperfectly。？Thewomanofwhomyouspeakcameoncewithyou，andtwiceafterwardswithanother。"？Hehesitated。
"Withanother，whocametoseeyoueverymonth—isitnotso，monseigneur？"
"Yes。"
"Doyouknowwhothisladywas？"
Thelightseemedreadytoflashfromtheprisoner'seyes。？"Iamawarethatshewasoneoftheladiesofthecourt，"hesaid。
"Yourememberthatladywell，doyounot？"
"Oh，myrecollectioncanhardlybeveryconfusedonthishead，"saidtheyoungprisoner。？"Isawthatladyoncewithagentlemanaboutforty—fiveyearsold。？Isawheroncewithyou，andwiththeladydressedinblack。？Ihaveseenhertwicesincethenwiththesameperson。？Thesefourpeople，withmymaster，andoldPerronnette，myjailer，andthegovernoroftheprison，aretheonlypersonswithwhomIhaveeverspoken，and，indeed，almosttheonlypersonsIhaveeverseen。"
"Thenyouwereinprison？"
"IfIamaprisonerhere，thenIwascomparativelyfree，althoughinaverynarrowsense—ahouseIneverquitted，agardensurroundedwithwallsIcouldnotclimb，theseconstitutedmyresidence，butyouknowit，asyouhavebeenthere。？Inaword，beingaccustomedtolivewithinthesebounds，Inevercaredtoleavethem。？Andsoyouwillunderstand，monsieur，thathavingneverseenanythingoftheworld，Ihavenothinglefttocarefor;andtherefore，ifyourelateanything，youwillbeobligedtoexplaineachitemtomeasyougoalong。"
"AndIwilldoso，"saidAramis，bowing;"foritismyduty，monseigneur。"
"Well，then，beginbytellingmewhowasmytutor。"
"A
worthyand，aboveall，anhonorablegentleman，monseigneur;fitguideforbothbodyandsoul。？Hadyoueveranyreasontocomplainofhim？"
"Oh，no;quitethecontrary。？Butthisgentlemanofyoursoftenusedtotellmethatmyfatherandmotherweredead。？Didhedeceiveme，ordidhespeakthetruth？"
"Hewascompelledtocomplywiththeordersgivenhim。"
"Thenhelied？"
"Inonerespect。？Yourfatherisdead。"
"Andmymother？"
"Sheisdeadforyou。"
"Butthenshelivesforothers，doesshenot？"
"Yes。"
"AndI—andI，then"（theyoungmanlookedsharplyatAramis）"amcompelledtoliveintheobscurityofaprison？"
"Alas！？Ifearso。"
"Andthatbecausemypresenceintheworldwouldleadtotherevelationofagreatsecret？"
"Certainly，averygreatsecret。"
"Myenemymustindeedbepowerful，tobeabletoshutupintheBastileachildsuchasIthenwas。"
"Heis。"
"Morepowerfulthanmymother，then？"
"Andwhydoyouaskthat？"
"Becausemymotherwouldhavetakenmypart。"
Aramishesitated。？"Yes，monseigneur;morepowerfulthanyourmother。"
"Seeing，then，thatmynurseandpreceptorwerecarriedoff，andthatI，also，wasseparatedfromthem—eithertheywere，orIam，verydangeroustomyenemy？"
"Yes;butyouarealludingtoaperilfromwhichhefreedhimself，bycausingthenurseandpreceptortodisappear，"answeredAramis，quietly。
"Disappear！"
criedtheprisoner，"howdidtheydisappear？"
"Inaverysureway，"answeredAramis—"theyaredead。"
Theyoungmanturnedpale，andpassedhishandtremblinglyoverhisface。？"Poison？"heasked。
"Poison。"
Theprisonerreflectedamoment。？"Myenemymustindeedhavebeenverycruel，orhardbesetbynecessity，toassassinatethosetwoinnocentpeople，mysolesupport;fortheworthygentlemanandthepoornursehadneverharmedalivingbeing。"
"Inyourfamily，monseigneur，necessityisstern。？Andsoitisnecessitywhichcompelsme，tomygreatregret，totellyouthatthisgentlemanandtheunhappyladyhavebeenassassinated。"
"Oh，youtellmenothingIamnotawareof，"saidtheprisoner，knittinghisbrows。
"How？"
"I
suspectedit。"
"Why？"
"Iwilltellyou。"
Atthismomenttheyoungman，supportinghimselfonhistwoelbows，drewclosetoAramis'sface，withsuchanexpressionofdignity，ofself—commandandofdefianceeven，thatthebishopfelttheelectricityofenthusiasmstrikeindevouringflashesfromthatgreatheartofhis，intohisbrainofadamant。
"Speak，monseigneur。？IhavealreadytoldyouthatbyconversingwithyouIendangermylife。？Littlevalueasithas，Iimploreyoutoacceptitastheransomofyourown。"
"Well，"
resumedtheyoungman，"thisiswhyIsuspectedtheyhadkilledmynurseandmypreceptor—"
"Whomyouusedtocallyourfather？"
"Yes;whomIcalledmyfather，butwhosesonIwellknewIwasnot。"
"Whocausedyoutosupposeso？"
"Justasyou，monsieur，aretoorespectfulforafriend，hewasalsotoorespectfulforafather。"
"I，however，"saidAramis，"havenointentiontodisguisemyself。"
Theyoungmannoddedassentandcontinued:"Undoubtedly，Iwasnotdestinedtoperpetualseclusion，"saidtheprisoner;"andthatwhichmakesmebelieveso，aboveall，now，isthecarethatwastakentorendermeasaccomplishedacavalieraspossible。？Thegentlemanattachedtomypersontaughtmeeverythingheknewhimself—mathematics，alittlegeometry，astronomy，fencingandriding。？EverymorningIwentthroughmilitaryexercises，andpracticedonhorseback。？Well，onemorningduringthesummer，itbeingveryhot，Iwenttosleepinthehall。？Nothing，uptothatperiod，excepttherespectpaidme，hadenlightenedme，orevenrousedmysuspicions。？Ilivedaschildren，asbirds，asplants，astheairandthesundo。？Ihadjustturnedmyfifteenthyear—"
"This，then，iseightyearsago？"
"Yes，nearly;butIhaveceasedtoreckontime。"
"Excuseme;
butwhatdidyourtutortellyou，toencourageyoutowork？"
"Heusedtosaythatamanwasboundtomakeforhimself，intheworld，thatfortunewhichHeavenhadrefusedhimathisbirth。？Headdedthat，beingapoor，obscureorphan，Ihadnoonebutmyselftolookto;
andthatnobodyeitherdid，oreverwould，takeanyinterestinme。？Iwas，then，inthehallIhavespokenof，asleepfromfatiguewithlongfencing。？Mypreceptorwasinhisroomonthefirstfloor，justoverme。？SuddenlyIheardhimexclaim，andthenhecalled:'Perronnette！？Perronnette！'？Itwasmynursewhomhecalled。"
"Yes，I
knowit，"saidAramis。？"Continue，monseigneur。"
"Verylikelyshewasinthegarden;formypreceptorcamehastilydownstairs。？Irose，anxiousatseeinghimanxious。？Heopenedthegarden—door，stillcryingout，'Perronnette！？Perronnette！'？Thewindowsofthehalllookedintothecourt;theshutterswereclosed;butthroughachinkinthemIsawmytutordrawnearalargewell，whichwasalmostdirectlyunderthewindowsofhisstudy。？Hestoopedoverthebrim，lookedintothewell，andagaincriedout，andmadewildandaffrightedgestures。？WhereIwas，Icouldnotonlysee，buthear—andseeandhearIdid。"
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