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。\"