第2章

"Goon，I

prayyou，"saidAramis。

"DamePerronnettecamerunningup，hearingthegovernor\'scries。？Hewenttomeether，tookherbythearm，anddrewherquicklytowardstheedge;afterwhich，astheybothbentoverittogether，\'Look，look，\'criedhe，\'whatamisfortune！\'

"\'Calmyourself，calmyourself，\'saidPerronnette;\'whatisthematter？\'

"\'Theletter！\'heexclaimed;\'doyouseethatletter？\'pointingtothebottomofthewell。

"\'Whatletter？\'shecried。

"\'Theletteryouseedownthere;thelastletterfromthequeen。\'

"AtthiswordItrembled。？Mytutor—hewhopassedformyfather，hewhowascontinuallyrecommendingmemodestyandhumility—incorrespondencewiththequeen！

"\'Thequeen\'slastletter！\'criedPerronnette，withoutshowingmoreastonishmentthanatseeingthisletteratthebottomofthewell;\'buthowcameitthere？\'

"\'Achance，DamePerronnette—asingularchance。？I

wasenteringmyroom，andonopeningthedoor，thewindow，too，beingopen，apuffofaircamesuddenlyandcarriedoffthispaper—thisletterofhermajesty\'s;Idartedafterit，andgainedthewindowjustintimetoseeitflutteramomentinthebreezeanddisappeardownthewell。\'

"\'Well，\'

saidDamePerronnette;\'andiftheletterhasfallenintothewell，\'tisallthesameasifitwasburnt;andasthequeenburnsallherletterseverytimeshecomes—\'

"Andsoyouseethisladywhocameeverymonthwasthequeen，"saidtheprisoner。

"\'Doubtless，doubtless，\'continuedtheoldgentleman;\'butthislettercontainedinstructions—howcanIfollowthem？\'

"\'Writeimmediatelytoher;giveheraplainaccountoftheaccident，andthequeenwillnodoubtwriteyouanotherletterinplaceofthis。\'

"\'Oh！thequeenwouldneverbelievethestory，\'saidthegoodgentleman，shakinghishead;\'shewillimaginethatIwanttokeepthisletterinsteadofgivingitupliketherest，soastohaveaholdoverher。？Sheissodistrustful，andM。deMazarinso—YondevilofanItalianiscapableofhavinguspoisonedatthefirstbreathofsuspicion。\'"

Aramisalmostimperceptiblysmiled。

"\'Youknow，DamePerronnette，theyarebothsosuspiciousinallthatconcernsPhilippe。\'

"Philippewasthenametheygaveme，"saidtheprisoner。

"\'Well，\'tisnousehesitating，\'saidDamePerronnette，\'somebodymustgodownthewell。\'

"\'Ofcourse;sothatthepersonwhogoesdownmayreadthepaperasheiscomingup。\'

"\'Butletuschoosesomevillagerwhocannotread，andthenyouwillbeatease。\'

"\'Granted;

butwillnotanyonewhodescendsguessthatapapermustbeimportantforwhichweriskaman\'slife？？However，youhavegivenmeanidea，DamePerronnette;somebodyshallgodownthewell，butthatsomebodyshallbemyself。\'

"ButatthisnotionDamePerronnettelamentedandcriedinsuchamanner，andsoimploredtheoldnobleman，withtearsinhereyes，thathepromisedhertoobtainaladderlongenoughtoreachdown，whileshewentinsearchofsomestout—heartedyouth，whomshewastopersuadethatajewelhadfallenintothewell，andthatthisjewelwaswrappedinapaper。？\'Andaspaper，\'remarkedmypreceptor，\'naturallyunfoldsinwater，theyoungmanwouldnotbesurprisedatfindingnothing，afterall，buttheletterwideopen。\'

"\'Butperhapsthewritingwillbealreadyeffacedbythattime，\'saidDamePerronnette。

"\'Noconsequence，providedwesecuretheletter。？Onreturningittothequeen，shewillseeatoncethatwehavenotbetrayedher;andconsequently，asweshallnotrousethedistrustofMazarin，weshallhavenothingtofearfromhim。\'

"Havingcometothisresolution，theyparted。？I

pushedbacktheshutter，and，seeingthatmytutorwasabouttore—enter，I

threwmyselfonmycouch，inaconfusionofbraincausedbyallIhadjustheard。？Mygovernoropenedthedoorafewmomentsafter，andthinkingIwasasleepgentlycloseditagain。？Assoonaseveritwasshut，Irose，and，listening，heardthesoundofretiringfootsteps。？ThenIreturnedtotheshutters，andsawmytutorandDamePerronnettegoouttogether。？Iwasaloneinthehouse。？TheyhadhardlyclosedthegatebeforeIsprangfromthewindowandrantothewell。？Then，justasmygovernorhadleanedover，soleanedI。？Somethingwhiteandluminousglistenedinthegreenandquiveringsilenceofthewater。？Thebrilliantdiskfascinatedandalluredme;myeyesbecamefixed，andIcouldhardlybreathe。？Thewellseemedtodrawmedownwardswithitsslimymouthandicybreath;andIthoughtIread，atthebottomofthewater，charactersoffiretracedupontheletterthequeenhadtouched。？Then，scarcelyknowingwhatIwasabout，andurgedonbyoneofthoseinstinctiveimpulseswhichdrivementodestruction，Iloweredthecordfromthewindlassofthewelltowithinaboutthreefeetofthewater，leavingthebucketdangling，atthesametimetakinginfinitepainsnottodisturbthatcovetedletter，whichwasbeginningtochangeitswhitetintforthehueofchrysoprase，—proofenoughthatitwassinking，—andthen，withtheropewelteringinmyhands，sliddownintotheabyss。？WhenIsawmyselfhangingoverthedarkpool，whenIsawtheskylesseningabovemyhead，acoldshuddercameoverme，achillfeargotthebetterofme，Iwasseizedwithgiddiness，andthehairroseonmyhead;butmystrongwillstillreignedsupremeoveralltheterroranddisquietude。？Igainedthewater，andatonceplungedintoit，holdingonbyonehand，whileIimmersedtheotherandseizedthedearletter，which，alas！cameintwoinmygrasp。？Iconcealedthetwofragmentsinmybody—coat，and，helpingmyselfwithmyfeetagainstthesidesofthepit，andclingingonwithmyhands，agileandvigorousasIwas，and，aboveall，pressedfortime，Iregainedthebrink，drenchingitasItoucheditwiththewaterthatstreamedoffme。？Iwasnosooneroutofthewellwithmyprize，thanIrushedintothesunlight，andtookrefugeinakindofshrubberyatthebottomofthegarden。？AsI

enteredmyhiding—place，thebellwhichresoundedwhenthegreatgatewasopened，rang。？Itwasmypreceptorcomebackagain。？Ihadbutjusttime。？Icalculatedthatitwouldtaketenminutesbeforehewouldgainmyplaceofconcealment，evenif，guessingwhereIwas，hecamestraighttoit;andtwentyifhewereobligedtolookforme。？Butthiswastimeenoughtoallowmetoreadthecherishedletter，whosefragmentsIhastenedtouniteagain。？Thewritingwasalreadyfading，butI

managedtodecipheritall。

"Andwillyoutellmewhatyoureadtherein，monseigneur？"askedAramis，deeplyinterested。

"Quiteenough，monsieur，toseethatmytutorwasamanofnoblerank，andthatPerronnette，withoutbeingaladyofquality，wasfarbetterthanaservant;

andalsotoperceivedthatImustmyselfbehigh—born，sincethequeen，AnneofAustria，andMazarin，theprimeminister，commendedmesoearnestlytotheircare。"？Heretheyoungmanpaused，quiteovercome。

"Andwhathappened？"askedAramis。

"Ithappened，monsieur，"answeredhe，"thattheworkmentheyhadsummonedfoundnothinginthewell，aftertheclosestsearch;thatmygovernorperceivedthatthebrinkwasallwatery;thatIwasnotsodriedbythesunastopreventDamePerronnettespyingthatmygarmentsweremoist;and，lastly，thatIwasseizedwithaviolentfever，owingtothechillandtheexcitementofmydiscovery，anattackofdeliriumsupervening，duringwhichIrelatedthewholeadventure;sothat，guidedbymyavowal，mygovernorfoundthepiecesofthequeen\'sletterinsidethebolsterwhereIhadconcealedthem。"

"Ah！"

saidAramis，"nowIunderstand。"

"Beyondthis，allisconjecture。？Doubtlesstheunfortunateladyandgentleman，notdaringtokeeptheoccurrencesecret，wroteofallthistothequeenandsentbackthetornletter。"

"Afterwhich，"

saidAramis，"youwerearrestedandremovedtotheBastile。"

"Asyousee。"

"Yourtwoattendantsdisappeared？"

"Alas！"

"Letusnottakeupourtimewiththedead，butseewhatcanbedonewiththeliving。？Youtoldmeyouwereresigned。"

"Irepeatit。"

"Withoutanydesireforfreedom？"

"AsItoldyou。"

"Withoutambition，sorrow，orthought？"

Theyoungmanmadenoanswer。

"Well，"

askedAramis，"whyareyousilent？"

"IthinkI

havespokenenough，"answeredtheprisoner，"andthatnowitisyourturn。？Iamweary。"

Aramisgatheredhimselfup，andashadeofdeepsolemnityspreaditselfoverhiscountenance。？Itwasevidentthathehadreachedthecrisisintheparthehadcometotheprisontoplay。？"Onequestion，"saidAramis。

"Whatisit？speak。"

"Inthehouseyouinhabitedtherewereneitherlooking—glassesnormirrors？"

"Whatarethosetwowords，andwhatistheirmeaning？"askedtheyoungman;"I

havenosortofknowledgeofthem。"

"Theydesignatetwopiecesoffurniturewhichreflectobjects;sothat，forinstance，youmayseeinthemyourownlineaments，asyouseeminenow，withthenakedeye。"

"No;therewasneitheraglassnoramirrorinthehouse，"answeredtheyoungman。

Aramislookedroundhim。？"Noristhereanythingofthekindhere，either，"hesaid;"theyhaveagaintakenthesameprecaution。"

"Towhatend？"

"Youwillknowdirectly。？Now，youhavetoldmethatyouwereinstructedinmathematics，astronomy，fencing，andriding;butyouhavenotsaidawordabouthistory。"

"Mytutorsometimesrelatedtometheprincipaldeedsoftheking，St。Louis，KingFrancisI。，andKingHenryIV。"

"Isthatall？"

"Verynearly。"

"Thisalsowasdonebydesign，then;justastheydeprivedyouofmirrors，whichreflectthepresent，sotheyleftyouinignoranceofhistory，whichreflectsthepast。？Sinceyourimprisonment，bookshavebeenforbiddenyou;sothatyouareunacquaintedwithanumberoffacts，bymeansofwhichyouwouldbeabletoreconstructtheshatteredmansionofyourrecollectionsandyourhopes。"

"Itistrue，"saidtheyoungman。

"Listen，then;IwillinafewwordstellyouwhathaspassedinFranceduringthelasttwenty—threeortwenty—fouryears;thatis，fromtheprobabledateofyourbirth;inaword，fromthetimethatinterestsyou。"

"Sayon。"？Andtheyoungmanresumedhisseriousandattentiveattitude。

"DoyouknowwhowasthesonofHenryIV。？"

"AtleastI

knowwhohissuccessorwas。"

"How？"

"Bymeansofacoindated1610，whichbearstheeffigyofHenryIV。;andanotherof1612，bearingthatofLouisXIII。？SoI

presumedthat，therebeingonlytwoyearsbetweenthetwodates，LouiswasHenry\'ssuccessor。"

"Then，"

saidAramis，"youknowthatthelastreigningmonarchwasLouisXIII。？"

"I

do，"answeredtheyouth，slightlyreddening。

"Well，hewasaprincefullofnobleideasandgreatprojects，always，alas！deferredbythetroubleofthetimesandthedreadstrugglethathisministerRichelieuhadtomaintainagainstthegreatnoblesofFrance。？Thekinghimselfwasofafeeblecharacter，anddiedyoungandunhappy。"

"Iknowit。"

"Hehadbeenlonganxiousabouthavingaheir;acarewhichweighsheavilyonprinces，whodesiretoleavebehindthemmorethanonepledgethattheirbestthoughtsandworkswillbecontinued。"

"Didtheking，then，diechildless？"askedtheprisoner，smiling。

"No，buthewaslongwithoutone，andforalongwhilethoughtheshouldbethelastofhisrace。？Thisideahadreducedhimtothedepthsofdespair，whensuddenly，hiswife，AnneofAustria—"

Theprisonertrembled。

"Didyouknow，"saidAramis，"thatLouisXIII。\'swifewascalledAnneofAustria？"

"Continue，"

saidtheyoungman，withoutreplyingtothequestion。

"Whensuddenly，"resumedAramis，"thequeenannouncedaninterestingevent。？Therewasgreatjoyattheintelligence，andallprayedforherhappydelivery。？Onthe5thofSeptember，1638，shegavebirthtoason。"

HereAramislookedathiscompanion，andthoughtheobservedhimturningpale。？"Youareabouttohear，"saidAramis，"anaccountwhichfewindeedcouldnowavouch;foritreferstoasecretwhichtheyimaginedburiedwiththedead，entombedintheabyssoftheconfessional。"

"Andyouwilltellmethissecret？"brokeintheyouth。

"Oh！"

saidAramis，withunmistakableemphasis，"IdonotknowthatIoughttoriskthissecretbyintrustingittoonewhohasnodesiretoquittheBastile。"

"Ihearyou，monsieur。"

"Thequeen，then，gavebirthtoason。？Butwhilethecourtwasrejoicingovertheevent，whenthekinghadshowthenew—bornchildtothenobilityandpeople，andwassittinggaylydowntotable，tocelebratetheevent，thequeen，whowasaloneinherroom，wasagaintakenillandgavebirthtoasecondson。"

"Oh！"

saidtheprisoner，betrayingabitteracquaintancewithaffairsthanhehadownedto，"IthoughtthatMonsieurwasonlybornin—"

Aramisraisedhisfinger;"Permitmetocontinue，"hesaid。

Theprisonersighedimpatiently，andpaused。

"Yes，"

saidAramis，"thequeenhadasecondson，whomDamePerronnette，themidwife，receivedinherarms。"

"DamePerronnette！"murmuredtheyoungman。

"Theyranatoncetothebanqueting—room，andwhisperedtothekingwhathadhappened;heroseandquittedthetable。？Butthistimeitwasnolongerhappinessthathisfaceexpressed，butsomethingakintoterror。？Thebirthoftwinschangedintobitternessthejoytowhichthatofanonlysonhadgivenrise，seeingthatinFrance（afactyouareassuredlyignorantof）itistheoldestoftheking\'ssonswhosucceedshisfather。"

"Iknowit。"

"Andthatthedoctorsandjuristsassertthatthereisgroundfordoubtingwhetherthesonthatfirstmakeshisappearanceistheelderbythelawofheavenandofnature。"

Theprisonerutteredasmotheredcry，andbecamewhiterthanthecoverletunderwhichhehidhimself。

"Nowyouunderstand，"pursuedAramis，"thattheking，whowithsomuchpleasuresawhimselfrepeatedinone，wasindespairabouttwo;fearingthatthesecondmightdisputethefirst\'sclaimtoseniority，whichhadbeenrecognizedonlytwohoursbefore;andsothissecondson，relyingonpartyinterestsandcaprices，mightonedaysowdiscordandengendercivilwarthroughoutthekingdom;bythesemeansdestroyingtheverydynastyheshouldhavestrengthened。"

"Oh，I

understand！—Iunderstand！"murmuredtheyoungman。

"Well，"

continuedAramis;"thisiswhattheyrelate，whattheydeclare;thisiswhyoneofthequeen\'stwosons，shamefullypartedfromhisbrother，shamefullysequestered，isburiedinprofoundobscurity;thisiswhythatsecondsonhasdisappeared，andsocompletely，thatnotasoulinFrance，savehismother，isawareofhisexistence。"

"Yes！hismother，whohascasthimoff，"criedtheprisonerinatoneofdespair。

"Except，also，"Aramiswenton，"theladyintheblackdress;and，finally，excepting—"

"Exceptingyourself—isitnot？？Youwhocomeandrelateallthis;you，whorouseinmysoulcuriosity，hatred，ambition，and，perhaps，eventhethirstofvengeance;exceptyou，monsieur，who，ifyouarethemantowhomIexpect，whomthenoteIhavereceivedappliesto，whom，inshort，Heavenoughttosendme，mustpossessaboutyou—"

"What？"

askedAramis。

"Aportraitoftheking，LouisXIV。，whoatthismomentreignsuponthethroneofFrance。"

"Hereistheportrait，"repliedthebishop，handingtheprisoneraminiatureinenamel，onwhichLouiswasdepictedlife—like，withahandsome，loftymien。？Theprisonereagerlyseizedtheportrait，andgazedatitwithdevouringeyes。

"Andnow，monseigneur，"saidAramis，"hereisamirror。"？Aramislefttheprisonertimetorecoverhisideas。

"Sohigh！—

sohigh！"murmuredtheyoungman，eagerlycomparingthelikenessofLouiswithhisowncountenancereflectedintheglass。

"Whatdoyouthinkofit？"atlengthsaidAramis。

"IthinkthatIamlost，"repliedthecaptive;"thekingwillneversetmefree。"

"AndI—I

demandtoknow，"addedthebishop，fixinghispiercingeyessignificantlyupontheprisoner，"Idemandtoknowwhichofthesetwoisking;theonethisminiatureportrays，orwhomtheglassreflects？"

"Theking，monsieur，"sadlyrepliedtheyoungman，"ishewhoisonthethrone，whoisnotinprison;andwho，ontheotherhand，cancauseotherstobeentombedthere。？Royaltymeanspower;

andyoubeholdhowpowerlessIam。"

"Monseigneur，"

answeredAramis，witharespecthehadnotyetmanifested，"theking，markme，will，ifyoudesireit，betheonethat，quittinghisdungeon，shallmaintainhimselfuponthethrone，onwhichhisfriendswillplacehim。"

"Temptmenot，monsieur，"brokeintheprisonerbitterly。

"Benotweak，monseigneur，"persistedAramis;"Ihavebroughtyoualltheproofsofyourbirth;consultthem;satisfyyourselfthatyouareaking\'sson;

itisforustoact。"

"No，no;itisimpossible。"

"Unless，indeed，"resumedthebishopironically，"itbethedestinyofyourrace，thatthebrothersexcludedfromthethroneshouldbealwaysprincesvoidofcourageandhonesty，aswasyouruncle，M。Gastond\'Orl閍ns，whotentimesconspiredagainsthisbrotherLouisXIII。"

"What！"

criedtheprince，astonished;"myuncleGaston\'conspiredagainsthisbrother\';conspiredtodethronehim？"

"Exactly，monseigneur;fornootherreason。？I

tellyouthetruth。"

"Andhehadfriends—devotedfriends？"

"AsmuchsoasIamtoyou。"

"And，afterall，whatdidhedo？—Failed！"

"Hefailed，Iadmit;butalwaysthroughhisownfault;and，forthesakeofpurchasing—

nothislife—forthelifeoftheking\'sbrotherissacredandinviolable—

buthisliberty，hesacrificedthelivesofallhisfriends，oneafteranother。？Andso，atthisday，heisaveryblotonhistory，thedetestationofahundrednoblefamiliesinthiskingdom。"

"I

understand，monsieur;eitherbyweaknessortreachery，myuncleslewhisfriends。"

"Byweakness;which，inprinces，isalwaystreachery。"

"Andcannotamanfail，then，fromincapacityandignorance？？DoyoureallybelieveitpossiblethatapoorcaptivesuchasI，broughtup，notonlyatadistancefromthecourt，butevenfromtheworld—doyoubelieveitpossiblethatsuchaonecouldassistthoseofhisfriendswhoshouldattempttoservehim？"？AndasAramiswasabouttoreply，theyoungmansuddenlycriedout，withaviolencewhichbetrayedthetemperofhisblood，"Wearespeakingoffriends;buthowcanIhaveanyfriends—I，whomnooneknows;andhaveneitherliberty，money，norinfluence，togainany？"

"IfancyI

hadthehonortooffermyselftoyourroyalhighness。"

"Oh，donotstylemeso，monsieur;\'tiseithertreacheryorcruelty。？Bidmenotthinkofaughtbeyondtheseprison—walls，whichsogrimlyconfineme;letmeagainlove，or，atleast，submittomyslaveryandmyobscurity。"

"Monseigneur，monseigneur;ifyouagainutterthesedesperatewords—if，afterhavingreceivedproofofyourhighbirth，youstillremainpoor—spiritedinbodyandsoul，Iwillcomplywithyourdesire，Iwilldepart，andrenounceforevertheserviceofamaster，towhomsoeagerlyIcametodevotemyassistanceandmylife！"

"Monsieur，"

criedtheprince，"woulditnothavebeenbetterforyoutohavereflected，beforetellingmeallthatyouhavedone，thatyouhavebrokenmyheartforever？"

"AndsoI

desiretodo，monseigneur。"

"Totalktomeaboutpower，grandeur，eye，andtoprateofthrones！？Isaprisonthefitplace？？Youwishtomakemebelieveinsplendor，andwearelyinglostinnight;youboastofglory，andwearesmotheringourwordsinthecurtainsofthismiserablebed;yougivemeglimpsesofpowerabsolutewhilstIhearthefootstepsoftheevery—watchfuljailerinthecorridor—thatstepwhich，afterall，makesyoutremblemorethanitdoesme。？Torendermesomewhatlessincredulous，freemefromtheBastile;letmebreathethefreshair;givememyspursandtrustysword，thenweshallbegintounderstandeachother。"

"Itispreciselymyintentiontogiveyouallthis，monseigneur，andmore;only，doyoudesireit？"

"Awordmore，"saidtheprince。？"I

knowthereareguardsineverygallery，boltstoeverydoor，cannonandsoldieryateverybarrier。？Howwillyouovercomethesentries—spiketheguns？？Howwillyoubreakthroughtheboltsandbars？"

"Monseigneur，—howdidyougetthenotewhichannouncedmyarrivaltoyou？"

"Youcanbribeajailerforsuchathingasanote。"

"Ifwecancorruptoneturnkey，wecancorruptten。"

"Well;I

admitthatitmaybepossibletoreleaseapoorcaptivefromtheBastile;

possiblesotoconcealhimthattheking\'speopleshallnotagainensnarehim;

possible，insomeunknownretreat，tosustaintheunhappywretchinsomesuitablemanner。"

"Monseigneur！"

saidAramis，smiling。

"Iadmitthat，whoeverwoulddothismuchforme，wouldseemmorethanmortalinmyeyes;butasyoutellmeIamaprince，brotheroftheking，howcanyourestoremetherankandpowerwhichmymotherandmybrotherhavedeprivedmeof？？Andas，toeffectthis，Imustpassalifeofwarandhatred，howcanyoucausemetoprevailinthosecombats—

rendermeinvulnerablebymyenemies？？Ah！monsieur，reflectonallthis;placeme，to—morrow，insomedarkcavernatamountain\'sbase;yieldmethedelightofhearinginfreedomsoundsoftheriver，plainandvalley，ofbeholdinginfreedomthesunoftheblueheavens，orthestormysky，anditisenough。？Promisemenomorethanthis，for，indeed，moreyoucannotgive，anditwouldbeacrimetodeceiveme，sinceyoucallyourselfmyfriend。"

Aramiswaitedinsilence。？"Monseigneur，"heresumed，afteramoment\'sreflection，"Iadmirethefirm，soundsensewhichdictatesyourwords;Iamhappytohavediscoveredmymonarch\'smind。"

"Again，again！oh，God！formercy\'ssake，"criedtheprince，pressinghisicyhandsuponhisclammybrow，"donotplaywithme！？Ihavenoneedtobeakingtobethehappiestofmen。"

"ButI，monseigneur，wishyoutobeakingforthegoodofhumanity。"

"Ah！"

saidtheprince，withfreshdistrustinspiredbytheword;"ah！withwhat，then，hashumanitytoreproachmybrother？"

"Iforgottosay，monseigneur，thatifyouwouldallowmetoguideyou，andifyouconsenttobecomethemostpowerfulmonarchinChristendom，youwillhavepromotedtheinterestsofallthefriendswhomIdevotetothesuccessofyourcause，andthesefriendsarenumerous。"

"Numerous？"

"Lessnumerousthanpowerful，monseigneur。"

"Explainyourself。"

"Itisimpossible;Iwillexplain，IswearbeforeHeaven，onthatdaythatIseeyousittingonthethroneofFrance。"

"Butmybrother？"

"Youshalldecreehisfate。？Doyoupityhim？"