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。"