ANOTHER SUPPER AT THE BASTILLE.
Seven o'clock sounded from the great clock of the Bastille, that famous
clock, which like all the accessories of the state prison, the very use
of which is a torture, recalled to the prisoners' minds the destination
of every hour of their punishment. The timepiece of the Bastille,
adorned with figures, like most of the clocks of the period, represented
St. Peter in bonds. It was the supper hour of the unfortunate captives.
The doors, grating on their enormous hinges, opened for the passage of
the baskets and trays of provisions, the delicacy of which, as M. de
Baisemeaux has himself taught us, was regulated by the condition in life
of the prisoner. We understand on this head the theories of M. de
Baisemeaux, sovereign dispenser of gastronomic delicacies, head cook of
the royal fortress, whose trays, full laden, were ascending the steep
staircases, carrying some consolation to the prisoners in the bottom of
honestly filled bottles. This same 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; ham, fried and sprinkled with white wine;
_cardons_ of Guipuzcoa and _la bisque écrevisses_: these, together with
the soups and _hors-d'oeuvre_, constituted the governor's bill of
fare. Baisemeaux, seated at table, was rubbing his hands and looking at
the bishop of Vannes, who, booted like a cavalier, dressed in gray and
sword at side, kept talking of his hunger and testifying the liveliest
impatience. M. de Baisemeaux de Montlezun was not accustomed to the
unbending movements of his greatness, my lord of Vannes, and this
evening, Aramis becoming quite sprightly, volunteered confidence on
confidence. The prelate had again a little touch of the musketeer about
him. The bishop just trenched on the borders only of license in his
style of conversation. As for M. de Baisemeaux, with the facility of
vulgar people, he gave himself up entirely 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 you
of a capital guest."
"You remind me of two, monsieur. Francois, shut the window; the wind may
annoy his greatness."
"And let him go," added Aramis. "The supper is completely served, and we
shall eat it very well without waiters. I like extremely to be
tete-à-tete when I am with a friend." Baisemeaux bowed respectfully. "I
like extremely," continued Aramis, "to help myself."
"Retire, Francois," cried Baisemeaux. "I was saying that your greatness
puts 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, very
adventurous, very fortunate, who, from being abbe, turned musketeer, and
from musketeer turned abbe." Aramis condescended to smile. "From abbe,"
continued Baisemeaux, encouraged by Aramis' smile--"from abbe,
bishop--and from bishop--"
"Ah! stay there, I beg," exclaimed Aramis.
"I say, monsieur, that you give me the idea of a cardinal."
"Enough, dear M. Baisemeaux. As you said, I have on the boots of a
cavalier, but I do not intend, for all that, to embroil myself with the
church this evening."
"But you have wicked intentions, however, 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 do you still make use of your sword?"
"Yes, I should think so; but only when I am compelled. Do me the
pleasure 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 of the
arrival 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 the
windows, 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 yourself
very lonely, now M. de la Fere has returned to his household gods at
Blois? He is a very old friend, is he not?"
"You know it as I do, Baisemeaux, seeing that you were in the musketeers
with 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, dear
Baisemeaux; I venerate him."
"Well, for my part, though 'tis singular," said the governor, "I prefer
M. 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 debauch as of old,
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 and
drank it off at a draught, trembling with joy at the idea of being, by
hook or by crook, in the secret of some high archiepiscopal
misdemeanor. While he was drinking he did not see with what attention
Aramis was noting the sounds in the great court. A courier came in about
eight o'clock as Francois brought in the fifth bottle, and, although the
courier made a great noise, Baisemeaux heard nothing.
"The devil take him," said Aramis.
"What! who?" asked Baisemeaux. "I hope 'tis neither the wine you drink
nor he who is the cause of your drinking it."
"No; it is a horse, who is making noise enough in the court for a whole
squadron."
"Pooh! some courier or other," replied the governor, redoubling his
numerous bumpers. "Yes; and may the devil take him, and so quickly that
we shall never hear him speak more! Hurrah! hurrah!"
"You forget me, Baisemeaux! my glass is empty," said Aramis, showing his
dazzling goblet.
"Upon 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," said
Baisemeaux, 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 is
sometimes an order."
"Nearly always."
"Do not orders issue from the ministers?"
"Yes, undoubtedly; but--"
"And what do these ministers do but countersign the signature of the
king?"
"Perhaps you are right. Nevertheless, 'tis very tiresome when you are
sitting before a good table, tete-à-tete with a friend--Ah! I beg your
pardon, monsieur; I forgot it is I who engage you at supper, and that I
speak to a future cardinal."
"Let us pass over that, dear Baisemeaux, and return to our soldier, to
Francois."
"Well, and what has Francois done?"
"He has demurred!"
"He was wrong, then."
"However, he _has_ demurred, you see; 'tis because there is something
extraordinary in this matter. It is very possible that it was not
Francois who was wrong in demurring, but you, who will be wrong in not
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 an
observation which I deem important."
"Oh! perhaps you are right," stammered Baisemeaux. "The king's order is
sacred; but as to orders that arrive when one is at supper, I repeat
that the 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
am accustomed to see everywhere obedience."
"You wish, then--"
"I wish that you should do your duty, my friend; yes, at least before
this soldier."
"'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 it is?
I will tell you something about as interesting as this. 'Beware of fire
near the powder magazine;' or 'Look close after such a one, who is
clever at escaping.' Ah! if you only knew, monseigneur, how many times I
have been suddenly awakened from the very sweetest and deepest slumber,
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 writing such
orders have never slept in the Bastille. They would know better; the
thickness of my walls, the vigilance of my officers, 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 at rest, and to trouble me
when I am happy," added Baisemeaux, bowing to Aramis. "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's
order. He slowly undid it, and as slowly read it. Aramis pretended to be
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, my
dear 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 is
so weary and tired, but not for me who am amusing myself," said
Baisemeaux, exasperated.
"Will you lose by him, then? And is the prisoner who is to be set at
liberty a high 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 is
_urgent_ to set him free to-day, this very evening, at eight
o'clock!--_urgent_!" And Baisemeaux, shrugging his shoulders with an air
of supreme disdain, flung the order on the table and began eating again.
"They are fond of these dodges!" he said, with his mouth full; "they
seize a man, some fine day, maintain him 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 a dangerous man,
all of a sudden, without cause or precedent, they write--'Set him at
liberty;' and actually add to their missive--'urgent.' You will own, my
lord, 'tis enough to make any one shrug his shoulders!"
"What do you expect? It is they who write," said Aramis, "and it is for
you to execute the order."
"Good! good! execute it! Oh, patience! You must not imagine that I am a
slave."
"Gracious Heaven! my very good M. Baisemeaux, who ever said so? Your
independence is known."
"Thank Heaven!"
"But your good heart also is known."
"Ah! don't speak of it!"
"And your obedience to your superiors. Once a soldier, you see,
Baisemeaux, always a soldier."
"And so I shall strictly obey; and, to-morrow morning, at daybreak, the
prisoner referred to shall be set free."
"To-morrow?"
"At dawn."
"Why not this evening, seeing that the _lettre de cachet_ bears, both on
the 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
charity has higher claims upon me than hunger and thirst. This
unfortunate man has suffered long enough, since you have just told me
that he has been your prisoner these ten years. Abridge his suffering.
His good time has come; give him the benefit quickly. God will repay you
in Paradise with years 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
motion turned round toward the door. The order had remained on the
table; Aramis seized the opportunity when Baisemeaux was not looking to
change the paper for another, folded in the same manner, and which he
took from his pocket. "Francois," said the governor, "let the major come
up here with the turnkeys of the Bertaudiere."
Francois bowed and quitted the room, leaving the two companions alone.