"Thedeuce！"criedLoret;"whatadangerousthing！？Onewouldgomadwithit！"
　　"Thedeuce！thedeuce！"repeatedLaFontaine;"whatcanIdo？"
　　"I
　　havediscoveredtheway，"saidMoli鑢e，whohadenteredjustatthispointoftheconversation。
　　"Whatway？"
　　"Writethemfirstandburnthemafterwards。"
　　"Howsimple！？Well，Ishouldneverhavediscoveredthat。？WhatamindthatdevilofaMoli鑢ehas！"saidLaFontaine。？Then，strikinghisforehead，"Oh，thouwiltneverbeaughtbutanass，JeanLaFontaine！"headded。
　　"Whatareyousayingthere，myfriend？"brokeinMoli鑢e，approachingthepoet，whoseasidehehadheard。
　　"I
　　sayIshallneverbeaughtbutanass，"answeredLaFontaine，withaheavysighandswimmingeyes。？"Yes，myfriend，"headded，withincreasinggrief，"itseemsthatIrhymeinaslovenlymanner。"
　　"Oh，'tiswrongtosayso。"
　　"Nay，Iamapoorcreature！"
　　"Whosaidso？"
　　"Parbleu！'twasP閘isson;didyounot，P閘isson？"
　　P閘isson，againabsorbedinhiswork，tookgoodcarenottoanswer。
　　"ButifP閘issonsaidyouwereso，"criedMoli鑢e，"P閘issonhasseriouslyoffendedyou。"
　　"Doyouthinkso？"
　　"Ah！？Iadviseyou，asyouareagentleman，nottoleaveaninsultlikethatunpunished。"
　　"What！"exclaimedLaFontaine。
　　"Didyoueverfight？"
　　"Onceonly，withalieutenantinthelighthorse。"
　　"Whatwronghadhedoneyou？"
　　"Itseemsheranawaywithmywife。"
　　"Ah，ah！"saidMoli鑢e，becomingslightlypale;butas，atLaFontaine'sdeclaration，theothershadturnedround，Moli鑢ekeptuponhislipstherallyingsmilewhichhadsonearlydiedaway，andcontinuingtomakeLaFontainespeak—
　　"Andwhatwastheresultoftheduel？"
　　"Theresultwas，thatonthegroundmyopponentdisarmedme，andthenmadeanapology，promisingneveragaintosetfootinmyhouse。"
　　"Andyouconsideredyourselfsatisfied？"saidMoli鑢e。
　　"Notatall！onthecontrary，Ipickedupmysword。？'Ibegyourpardon，monsieur，'Isaid，'Ihavenotfoughtyoubecauseyouweremywife'sfriend，butbecauseIwastoldIoughttofight。？So，asIhaveneverknownanypeacesavesinceyoumadeheracquaintance，domethepleasuretocontinueyourvisitsasheretofore，ormorbleu！letussettoagain。'？Andso，"continuedLaFontaine，"hewascompelledtoresumehisfriendshipwithmadame，andI
　　continuetobethehappiestofhusbands。"
　　Allburstoutlaughing。？Moli鑢ealonepassedhishandacrosshiseyes。？Why？？Perhapstowipeawayatear，perhapstosmotherasigh。？Alas！
　　weknowthatMoli鑢ewasamoralist，buthewasnotaphilosopher。？"'Tisallone，"hesaid，returningtothetopicoftheconversation，"P閘issonhasinsultedyou。"
　　"Ah，truly！？Ihadalreadyforgottenit。"
　　"AndIamgoingtochallengehimonyourbehalf。"
　　"Well，youcandoso，ifyouthinkitindispensable。"
　　"I
　　dothinkitindispensable，andIamgoingto—"
　　"Stay，"
　　exclaimedLaFontaine，"Iwantyouradvice。"
　　"Uponwhat？thisinsult？"
　　"No;
　　tellmereallynowwhetherlumi鑢edoesnotrhymewithorni鑢e。"
　　"I
　　shouldmakethemrhyme。"
　　"Ah！？Iknewyouwould。"
　　"AndIhavemadeahundredthousandsuchrhymesinmytime。"
　　"A
　　hundredthousand！"criedLaFontaine。？"Fourtimesasmanyas'LaPucelle，'whichM。Chaplainismeditating。？Isitalsoonthissubject，too，thatyouhavecomposedahundredthousandverses？"
　　"Listentome，youeternallyabsent—mindedcreature，"saidMoli鑢e。
　　"Itiscertain，"continuedLaFontaine，"thatl間ume，forinstance，rhymeswithposthume。"
　　"Intheplural，aboveall。"
　　"Yes，aboveallintheplural，seeingthatthenitrhymesnotwiththreeletters，butwithfour;asorni鑢edoeswithlumi鑢e。"
　　"Butgivemeorni鑢esandlumi鑢esintheplural，mydearP閘isson，"saidLaFontaine，clappinghishandontheshoulderofhisfriend，whoseinsulthehadquiteforgotten，"andtheywillrhyme。"
　　"Hem！"
　　coughedP閘isson。
　　"Moli鑢esaysso，andMoli鑢eisajudgeofsuchthings;hedeclareshehashimselfmadeahundredthousandverses。"
　　"Come，"
　　saidMoli鑢e，laughing，"heisoffnow。"
　　"Itislikerivage，whichrhymesadmirablywithherbage。？Iwouldtakemyoathofit。"
　　"But—"saidMoli鑢e。
　　"I
　　tellyouallthis，"continuedLaFontaine，"becauseyouarepreparingadivertissementforVaux，areyounot？"
　　"Yes，the'F鈉heux。'"
　　"Ah，yes，the'F鈉heux;'yes，Irecollect。？Well，Iwasthinkingaprologuewouldadmirablysuityourdivertissement。"
　　"Doubtlessitwouldsuitcapitally。"
　　"Ah！
　　youareofmyopinion？"
　　"Somuchso，thatIhaveaskedyoutowritethisveryprologue。"
　　"Youaskedmetowriteit？"
　　"Yes，you，andonyourrefusalbeggedyoutoaskP閘isson，whoisengageduponitatthismoment。"
　　"Ah！
　　thatiswhatP閘issonisdoing，then？？I'faith，mydearMoli鑢e，youareindeedoftenright。"
　　"When？"
　　"Whenyoucallmeabsent—minded。？Itisamonstrousdefect;Iwillcuremyselfofit，anddoyourprologueforyou。"
　　"ButinasmuchasP閘issonisaboutit！—"
　　"Ah，true，miserablerascalthatIam！？LoretwasindeedrightinsayingIwasapoorcreature。"
　　"ItwasnotLoretwhosaidso，myfriend。"
　　"Well，then，whoeversaidso，'tisthesametome！？Andsoyourdivertissementiscalledthe'F鈉heux？'？Well，canyoumakeheureuxrhymewithf鈉heux？"
　　"Ifobliged，yes。"
　　"Andevenwithcapriceux。"
　　"Oh，no，no。"
　　"Itwouldbehazardous，andyetwhyso？"
　　"Thereistoogreatadifferenceinthecadences。"
　　"I
　　wasfancying，"saidLaFontaine，leavingMoli鑢eforLoret—"Iwasfancying—"
　　"Whatwereyoufancying？"saidLoret，inthemiddleofasentence。？"Makehaste。"
　　"Youarewritingtheprologuetothe'F鈉heux，'areyounot？"
　　"No！mordieu！itisP閘isson。"
　　"Ah，P閘isson，"criedLaFontaine，goingovertohim，"Iwasfancying，"hecontinued，"thatthenymphofVaux—"
　　"Ah，beautiful！"criedLoret。？"ThenymphofVaux！thankyou，LaFontaine;youhavejustgivenmethetwoconcludingversesofmypaper。"
　　"Well，ifyoucanrhymesowell，LaFontaine，"saidP閘isson，"tellmenowinwhatwayyouwouldbeginmyprologue？"
　　"I
　　shouldsay，forinstance，'Oh！nymph，who—'？After'who'Ishouldplaceaverbinthesecondpersonsingularofthepresentindicative;andshouldgoonthus:'thisgrotprofound。'"
　　"Buttheverb，theverb？"askedP閘isson。
　　"Toadmirethegreatestkingofallkingsround，"continuedLaFontaine。
　　"Buttheverb，theverb，"obstinatelyinsistedP閘isson。？"Thissecondpersonsingularofthepresentindicative？"
　　"Well，then;quittest:
　　"Oh，nymph，whoquittestnowthisgrotprofound，Toadmirethegreatestkingofallkingsround。"
　　"Youwouldnotput'whoquittest，'wouldyou？"
　　"Whynot？"
　　"'Quittest，'
　　after'youwho'？"
　　"Ah！
　　mydearfellow，"exclaimedLaFontaine，"youareashockingpedant！"
　　"Withoutcounting，"saidMoli鑢e，"thatthesecondverse，'kingofallkingsround，'isveryweak，mydearLaFontaine。"
　　"ThenyouseeclearlyIamnothingbutapoorcreature，—ashuffler，asyousaid。"
　　"I
　　neversaidso。"
　　"Then，asLoretsaid。"
　　"AnditwasnotLoreteither;itwasP閘isson。"
　　"Well，P閘issonwasrightahundredtimesover。？Butwhatannoysmemorethananything，mydearMoli鑢e，is，thatIfearweshallnothaveourEpicureandresses。"
　　"Youexpectedyours，then，forthef阾e？"
　　"Yes，forthef阾e，andthenforafterthef阾e。？Myhousekeepertoldmethatmyownisratherfaded。"
　　"Diable！yourhousekeeperisright;
　　rathermorethanfaded。"
　　"Ah，yousee，"resumedLaFontaine，"thefactis，Ileftitonthefloorinmyroom，andmycat—"
　　"Well，yourcat—"
　　"Shemadehernestuponit，whichhasratherchangeditscolor。"
　　Moli鑢eburstoutlaughing;P閘issonandLoretfollowedhisexample。？Atthisjuncture，thebishopofVannesappeared，witharollofplansandparchmentsunderhisarm。？Asiftheangelofdeathhadchilledallgayandsprightlyfancies—asifthatwanformhadscaredawaytheGracestowhomXenocratessacrificed—silenceimmediatelyreignedthroughthestudy，andeveryoneresumedhisself—possessionandhispen。？Aramisdistributedthenotesofinvitation，andthankedtheminthenameofM。Fouquet。？"Thesuperintendent，"hesaid，"beingkepttohisroombybusiness，couldnotcomeandseethem，butbeggedthemtosendhimsomeofthefruitsoftheirday'swork，toenablehimtoforgetthefatigueofhislaborinthenight。"
　　Atthesewords，allsettleddowntowork。？LaFontaineplacedhimselfatatable，andsethisrapidpenanendlessdanceacrossthesmoothwhitevellum;P閘issonmadeafaircopyofhisprologue;Moli鑢econtributedfiftyfreshverses，withwhichhisvisittoPercerinhadinspiredhim;Loret，anarticleonthemarvelousf阾eshepredicted;andAramis，ladenwithhisbootylikethekingofthebees，thatgreatblackdrone，deckedwithpurpleandgold，re—enteredhisapartment，silentandbusy。？Butbeforedeparting，"Remember，gentlemen，"
　　saidhe，"weleaveto—morrowevening。"
　　"Inthatcase，Imustgivenoticeathome，"saidMoli鑢e。
　　"Yes;
　　poorMoli鑢e！"saidLoret，smiling;"heloveshishome。"
　　"'Heloves，'yes，"repliedMoli鑢e，withhissad，sweetsmile。？"'Heloves，'thatdoesnotmean，theylovehim。"
　　"Asforme，"saidLaFontaine，"theylovemeatCh鈚eauThierry，Iamverysure。"
　　Aramisherere—enteredafterabriefdisappearance。
　　"Willanyonegowithme？"heasked。？"IamgoingbyParis，afterhavingpassedaquarterofanhourwithM。Fouquet。？Ioffermycarriage。"
　　"Good，"
　　saidMoli鑢e，"Iacceptit。？Iaminahurry。"
　　"I
　　shalldinehere，"saidLoret。？"M。deGourvillehaspromisedmesomecraw—fish。"
　　"Hehaspromisedmesomewhitings。？Findarhymeforthat，LaFontaine。"
　　Aramiswentoutlaughing，asonlyhecouldlaugh，andMoli鑢efollowedhim。？Theywereatthebottomofthestairs，whenLaFontaineopenedthedoor，andshoutedout:
　　"Hehaspromisedussomewhitings，Inreturnfortheseourwritings。"
　　TheshoutsoflaughterreachedtheearsofFouquetatthemomentAramisopenedthedoorofthestudy。？AstoMoli鑢e，hehadundertakentoorderthehorses，whileAramiswenttoexchangeapartingwordwiththesuperintendent。？"Oh，howtheyarelaughingthere！"
　　saidFouquet，withasigh。
　　"Doyounotlaugh，monseigneur？"
　　"I
　　laughnolongernow，M。d'Herblay。？Thef阾eisapproaching;moneyisdeparting。"
　　"HaveInottoldyouthatwasmybusiness？"
　　"Yes，youpromisedmemillions。"
　　"Youshallhavethemthedayaftertheking'sentr閑intoVaux。"
　　FouquetlookedcloselyatAramis，andpassedthebackofhisicyhandacrosshismoistenedbrow。？Aramisperceivedthatthesuperintendenteitherdoubtedhim，orfelthewaspowerlesstoobtainthemoney。？HowcouldFouquetsupposethatapoorbishop，ex—abb？ex—musketeer，couldfindany？
　　"Whydoubtme？"saidAramis。？Fouquetsmiledandshookhishead。
　　"Manoflittlefaith！"addedthebishop。
　　"MydearM。d'Herblay，"answeredFouquet，"ifIfall—"
　　"Well;
　　ifyou'fall'？"
　　"I
　　shall，atleast，fallfromsuchaheight，thatIshallshattermyselfinfalling。"？Thengivinghimselfashake，asthoughtoescapefromhimself，"Whencecameyou，"saidhe，"myfriend？"
　　"FromParis—fromPercerin。"
　　"AndwhathaveyoubeendoingatPercerin's，forIsupposeyouattachnogreatimportancetoourpoets'dresses？"
　　"No;
　　Iwenttoprepareasurprise。"
　　"Surprise？"
　　"Yes;
　　whichyouaregoingtogivetotheking。"
　　"Andwillitcostmuch？"
　　"Oh！
　　ahundredpistolesyouwillgiveLebrun。"
　　"A
　　painting？—Ah！allthebetter！？Andwhatisthispaintingtorepresent？"
　　"I
　　willtellyou;thenatthesametime，whateveryoumaysayorthinkofit，I
　　wenttoseethedressesforourpoets。"
　　"Bah！
　　andtheywillberichandelegant？"
　　"Splendid！？Therewillbefewgreatmonseigneurswithsogood。？Peoplewillseethedifferencethereisbetweenthecourtiersofwealthandthoseoffriendship。"
　　"Evergenerousandgrateful，dearprelate。"
　　"Inyourschool。"
　　Fouquetgraspedhishand。？"Andwhereareyougoing？"hesaid。
　　"IamofftoParis，whenyoushallhavegivenacertainletter。"
　　"Forwhom？"
　　"M。deLyonne。"
　　"AndwhatdoyouwantwithLyonne？"
　　"Iwishtomakehimsignalettredecachet。"
　　"'Lettredecachet！'？DoyoudesiretoputsomebodyintheBastile？"
　　"Onthecontrary—toletsomebodyout。"
　　"Andwho？"
　　"A
　　poordevil—ayouth，aladwhohasbeenBastiledthesetenyears，fortwoLatinverseshemadeagainsttheJesuits。"
　　"'TwoLatinverses！'and，for'twoLatinverses，'themiserablebeinghasbeeninprisonfortenyears！"
　　"Yes！"
　　"Andhascommittednoothercrime？"
　　"Beyondthis，heisasinnocentasyouorI。"
　　"Onyourword？"
　　"Onmyhonor！"
　　"Andhisnameis—"
　　"Seldon。"
　　"Yes。—Butitistoobad。？Youknewthis，andyounevertoldme！"
　　"'Twasonlyyesterdayhismotherappliedtome，monseigneur。"
　　"Andthewomanispoor！"
　　"Inthedeepestmisery。"
　　"Heaven，"
　　saidFouquet，"sometimesbearswithsuchinjusticeonearth，thatIhardlywondertherearewretcheswhodoubtofitsexistence。？Stay，M。d'Herblay。"？AndFouquet，takingapen，wroteafewrapidlinestohiscolleagueLyonne。？Aramistooktheletterandmadereadytogo。
　　"Wait，"
　　saidFouquet。？Heopenedhisdrawer，andtookouttengovernmentnoteswhichwerethere，eachforathousandfrancs。？"Stay，"hesaid;"setthesonatliberty，andgivethistothemother;but，aboveall，donottellher—
　　"
　　"What，monseigneur？"
　　"ThatsheistenthousandlivresricherthanI。？ShewouldsayIambutapoorsuperintendent！？Go！andIpraythatGodwillblessthosewhoaremindfulofhispoor！"
　　"SoalsodoIpray，"repliedAramis，kissingFouquet'shand。
　　Andhewentoutquickly，carryingofftheletterforLyonneandthenotesforSeldon'smother，andtakingupMoli鑢e，whowasbeginningtolosepatience。
　　ChapterVII:
　　AnotherSupperattheBastile。
　　Seveno'clocksoundedfromthegreatclockoftheBastile，thatfamousclock，which，likealltheaccessoriesofthestateprison，theveryuseofwhichisatorture，recalledtotheprisoners'mindsthedestinationofeveryhouroftheirpunishment。？Thetime—pieceoftheBastile，adornedwithfigures，likemostoftheclocksoftheperiod，representedSt。Peterinbonds。？Itwasthesupperhouroftheunfortunatecaptives。？Thedoors，gratingontheirenormoushinges，openedforthepassageofthebasketsandtraysofprovisions，theabundanceandthedelicacyofwhich，asM。deBaisemeauxhashimselftaughtus，wasregulatedbytheconditioninlifeoftheprisoner。？WeunderstandonthisheadthetheoriesofM。deBaisemeaux，sovereigndispenserofgastronomicdelicacies，headcookoftheroyalfortress，whosetrays，full—laden，wereascendingthesteepstaircases，carryingsomeconsolationtotheprisonersintheshapeofhonestlyfilledbottlesofgoodvintages。？ThissamehourwasthatofM。legouverneur'ssupperalso。？Hehadaguestto—day，andthespitturnedmoreheavilythanusual。？Roastpartridges，flankedwithquailsandflankingalardedleveret;boiledfowls;hams，friedandsprinkledwithwhitewine，cardonsofGuipuzcoaandlabisque閏revisses:these，togetherwithsoupsandhorsd'渦vres，constitutedthegovernor'sbilloffare。？Baisemeaux，seatedattable，wasrubbinghishandsandlookingatthebishopofVannes，who，bootedlikeacavalier，dressedingrayandswordatside，kepttalkingofhishungerandtestifyingtheliveliestimpatience。？M。deBaisemeauxdeMontlezunwasnotaccustomedtotheunbendingmovementsofhisgreatnessmylordofVannes，andthiseveningAramis，becomingsprightly，volunteeredconfidenceonconfidence。？Theprelatehadagainalittletouchofthemusketeerabouthim。？Thebishopjusttrenchedonthebordersonlyoflicenseinhisstyleofconversation。？AsforM。deBaisemeaux，withthefacilityofvulgarpeople，hegavehimselfupentirelyuponthispointofhisguest'sfreedom。？"Monsieur，"saidhe，"forindeedto—nightIdarenotcallyoumonseigneur。"
　　"Bynomeans，"saidAramis;"callmemonsieur;Iambooted。"
　　"Doyouknow，monsieur，ofwhomyouremindmethisevening？"
　　"No！
　　faith，"saidAramis，takinguphisglass;"butIhopeIremindyouofacapitalguest。"
　　"Youremindmeoftwo，monsieur。？Fran鏾is，shutthewindow;thewindmayannoyhisgreatness。"
　　"Andlethimgo，"addedAramis。？"Thesupperiscompletelyserved，andweshalleatitverywellwithoutwaiters。？Ilikeexceedinglytobet阾e—？t阾ewhenIamwithafriend。"？Baisemeauxbowedrespectfully。
　　"I
　　likeexceedingly，"continuedAramis，"tohelpmyself。"
　　"Retire，Fran鏾is，"criedBaisemeaux。？"I
　　wassayingthatyourgreatnessputsmeinmindoftwopersons;oneveryillustrious，thelatecardinal，thegreatCardinaldelaRochelle，whoworebootslikeyou。"
　　"Indeed，"
　　saidAramis;"andtheother？"
　　"Theotherwasacertainmusketeer，veryhandsome，verybrave，veryadventurous，veryfortunate，who，frombeingabb？turnedmusketeer，andfrommusketeerturnedabb"t;？Aramiscondescendedtosmile。？"Fromabb？;
　　continuedBaisemeaux，encouragedbyAramis'ssmile—";fromabb？bishop—
　　andfrombishop"t;
　　"Ah！
　　staythere，Ibeg，"exclaimedAramis。
　　"I
　　havejustsaid，monsieur，thatyougavemetheideaofacardinal。"
　　"Enough，dearM。Baisemeaux。？Asyousaid，Ihaveonthebootsofacavalier，butIdonotintend，forallthat，toembroilmyselfwiththechurchthisevening。"
　　"Butyouhavewickedintentions，nevertheless，monseigneur。"
　　"Oh，yes，wicked，Iown，aseverythingmundaneis。"
　　"Youtraversethetownandthestreetsindisguise？"
　　"Indisguise，asyousay。"
　　"Andyoustillmakeuseofyoursword？"
　　"Yes，Ishouldthinkso;butonlywhenIamcompelled。？DomethepleasuretosummonFran鏾is。"
　　"Haveyounowinethere？"
　　"'Tisnotforwine，butbecauseitishothere，andthewindowisshut。"
　　"I
　　shutthewindowsatsupper—timesoasnottohearthesoundsorthearrivalofcouriers。"
　　"Ah，yes。？Youhearthemwhenthewindowisopen？"
　　"Buttoowell，andthatdisturbsme。？Youunderstand？"