Une fille du régent. English

by Alexandre Dumas

  CHAPTER XXVI.

  HOW LIFE PASSED IN THE BASTILLE WHILE WAITING FOR DEATH.

  Gaston was inclined to thank the lieutenant of police, but he refrained.It might appear as though he had been afraid. He took his hat and coat,and returned to the Bastille as he had come.

  "They did not like to put a man of high birth to the torture," thoughthe; "they will try me and condemn me to death."

  But death seemed easy when divested of the preliminary agonies which thelieutenant of police had so minutely described.

  On re-entering his room, Gaston saw, almost with joy, all that hadseemed so horrible to him an hour before. The prison seemed gay, theview charming, the saddest inscriptions on the walls were madrigalscompared to the menacing appearance of the room he had just quitted.

  The major of the Bastille came to fetch him about an hour afterward,accompanied by a turnkey.

  "I understand," thought Gaston; "the governor's invitation is a pretext,in such a case, to take from the prisoner the anguish of expectation. Ishall, doubtless, cross some dungeon, into which I shall fall and die.God's will be done." And, with a firm step, he followed the major,expecting every moment to be precipitated into some secret dungeon, andmurmuring Helene's name, that he might die with it on his lips.

  But, no accident following this poetical and loving invocation, theprisoner quietly arrived at the governor's door.

  M. de Launay came to meet him.

  "Will you give me your word of honor, chevalier," said he, "not toattempt to escape while you are in my house? It is understood, ofcourse," he added, smiling, "that this parole is withdrawn as soon asyou are taken back to your own room, and it is only a precaution toinsure me a continuance of your society."

  "I give you my word so far," said Gaston.

  "'Tis well, monsieur, enter; you are expected."

  And he led Gaston to a well-furnished room, where a numerous company wasalready assembled.

  "I have the honor to present to you M. le Chevalier Gaston de Chanlay,"said the governor. Then naming, in turn, each of the persons assembled--

  "M. le Duc de Richelieu."

  "M. le Comte de Laval."

  "M. le Chevalier Dumesnil."

  "M. de Malezieux."

  "Ah," said Gaston, smiling, "all the Cellamare conspiracy."

  "Except M. and Madame de Maine, and the Prince of Cellamare," said theAbbe Brigaud, bowing.

  "Ah, monsieur," said Gaston, in a reproachful tone, "you forget thebrave D'Harmental and the learned Mademoiselle de Launay."

  "D'Harmental is kept in bed by his wounds," said Brigaud.

  "As to Mademoiselle de Launay," said the Chevalier Dumesnil, reddeningwith pleasure, "here she comes; she does us the honor of dining withus."

  "Present me, monsieur," said Gaston; "among prisoners we must not makeceremonies; I reckon, therefore, on you."'

  And Dumesnil, taking Gaston by the hand, presented him to Mademoisellede Launay.

  Gaston could not repress a certain expression of astonishment at all hesaw.

  "Ah, chevalier," said the governor, "I see that, like three-quarters ofthe inhabitants of Paris, you thought I devoured my prisoners."

  "No, monsieur," said Gaston, "but I certainly thought for a moment thatI should not have had the honor of dining with you to-day."----"How so?"

  "Is it the habit to give your prisoners an appetite for their dinners bythe walk I have had to-day?"

  "Ah, yes," cried Mademoiselle de Launay, "was it not you who were beingled to the torture just now?"

  "Myself, mademoiselle; and be assured that only such a hindrance wouldhave kept me from so charming a society."

  "Ah, these things are not in my jurisdiction," said the governor; "thankHeaven, I am a soldier, and not a judge. Do not confound arms and thetoga, as Cicero says. My business is to keep you here, and to make yourstay as agreeable as possible, so that I may have the pleasure of seeingyou again. M. d'Argenson's business is to have you tortured, hanged,beheaded, put on the wheel, quartered, if possible; each to his task.Mademoiselle de Launay," added he, "dinner is ready, will you take myarm? Your pardon, Chevalier Dumesnil; you think me a tyrant, I am sure,but as host I am privileged. Gentlemen, seat yourselves."

  "What a horrible thing a prison is," said Richelieu, delicately turningup his cuffs, "slavery, irons, bolts, chains."

  "Shall I pass you this potage a l'ecrevisses?" said the governor.

  "Yes, monsieur," said the duke, "your cook does it beautifully, and I amreally annoyed that mine did not conspire with me; he might haveprofited by his stay in the Bastille."

  "There is champagne," said De Launay, "I have it direct from Ai."

  "You must give me the address," said Richelieu, "for if the regentleaves me my head, I shall drink no other wine than this. I have gotaccustomed to it during my sojourns here, and I am a creature of habit."

  "Indeed," said the governor, "you may all take example by Richelieu; heis most faithful to me; and, in fact, unless we are overcrowded, Ialways keep his room ready for him."

  "That tyrant of a regent may force us all to keep a room here," saidBrigaud.

  "Monsieur de Launay," said Laval, in an angry tone, "permit me to ask ifit was by your orders that I was awoke at two o'clock this morning, andthe meaning of this persecution?"

  "It is not my fault, monsieur; you must blame these gentlemen andladies, who will not keep quiet, in spite of all I tell them."

  "We!" cried all the guests.

  "Certainly," replied the governor, "you all break through rules; I amalways having reports of communications, correspondences, notes, etc."

  Richelieu laughed, Dumesnil and Mademoiselle de Launay blushed.

  "But we will speak of that at dessert. You do not drink, M. de Chanlay?"

  "No, I am listening."

  "Say that you are dreaming; you cannot deceive me thus."

  "And of what?" asked Malezieux.

  "Ah, it is easy to see that you are getting old, my poetical friend; ofwhat should M. de Chanlay dream but of his love."

  "Is it not better, M. de Chanlay," cried Richelieu, "to have your headseparated from your body, than your body from your soul?"

  "Apropos," interrupted Laval, "is there any news from the court; how isthe king?"

  "No politics, gentlemen, if you please," said the governor. "Let usdiscuss poetry, arts, war, and even the Bastille, if you like, but letus avoid politics."

  "Ah, yes," said Richelieu, "let us talk of the Bastille. What have youdone with Pompadour?"

  "I am sorry to say he forced me to place him in the dungeon."

  "What had he done?" asked Gaston.

  "He had beaten his jailer."

  "How long has it been forbidden for a gentleman to beat his servant?"asked Richelieu.

  "The jailers are servants of the king, M. le Duc," said De Launay,smiling.

  "Say rather of the regent."

  "A subtle distinction."

  "A just one."

  "Shall I pass you the Chambertin, M. de Laval?"

  "If you will drink with me to the health of the king."

  "Certainly--if afterward you will drink with me to the health of theregent."

  "Monsieur," said Laval, "I am no longer thirsty."

  "I believe it--you have just drunk some wine from his highness'scellar."

  "From the regent's?"

  "He sent it me yesterday, knowing that I was to have the pleasure ofyour company."

  "In that case," said Brigaud, throwing the contents of his glass uponthe floor, "no more poison."

  "Oh!" said Malezieux, "I did not know you were such a fanatic for thegood cause."

  "You were wrong to spill it, abbe," said Richelieu, "I know that wine,and you will hardly find such out of the Palais Royal--if it wereagainst your principles to drink it, you should have passed it to yourneighbor, or put it back in the bottle. 'Vinum in amphoram,' said myschoolmaster."

  "M. le Duc," said Brigaud, "you do not know Latin as well as Spanish."

 
; "I know French still less, and I want to learn it."

  "Oh! that would be long and tedious; better get admitted into theAcademy, it would be far easier."

  "And do you speak Spanish?" asked Richelieu of De Chanlay.

  "Report says, monsieur, that I am here for the abuse of that tongue."

  "Monsieur," said the governor, "if you return to politics I must leavethe table."

  "Then," said Richelieu, "tell Mademoiselle de Launay to talkmathematics; that will not frighten any one."

  Mademoiselle de Launay started; she had been carrying on a conversationwith Dumesnil, which had been greatly exciting the jealousy ofMaison-Rouge, who was in love with her.

  When dinner was over, the governor conducted each guest back to his ownroom, and when it came to Gaston's turn he asked M. de Launay if hecould have some razors, instruments which appeared necessary in a placewhere such elegant company was assembled.

  "Monsieur le Chevalier," said the governor, "I am distressed to refuseyou a thing of which I see the necessity; but it is against the rulesfor any one to shave themselves unless they have special permission fromthe lieutenant of police--no doubt you will obtain the permission if youapply for it."

  "But are those gentlemen whom I met here privileged, for they were welldressed and shaved?"

  "No, they all had to ask permission; the Duc de Richelieu remained for amonth with a beard like a patriarch."

  "I find it difficult to reconcile such severity in detail with theliberty I have just seen."

  "Monsieur, I also have my privileges, which do not extend to giving youbooks, razors, or pens, but which allow me to invite to my table suchprisoners as I choose to favor--always supposing that it is a favor.True, it is stipulated that I shall give an account of anything which isspoken against the government, but by preventing my guests from touchingon politics, I avoid the necessity of betraying them."

  "Is it not feared, monsieur," said Gaston, "that this intimacy betweenyou and your prisoners should lead to indulgences on your part, whichmight be contrary to the intentions of the government?"

  "I know my duty, monsieur, and keep within its strict limits; I receivemy orders from the court, and my guests--who know that I have nothing todo with them--bear me no ill will for them. I hope you will do thesame."

  "The precaution was not unnecessary," said Gaston, "for doubtless Ishall not long be left in the enjoyment of the pleasure I have hadto-day."

  "You have doubtless some protector at court?"

  "None," said Gaston.

  "Then you must trust to chance, monsieur."

  "I have never found it propitious."

  "The more reason that it should weary of persecuting you."

  "I am a Breton, and Bretons trust only in God."

  "Take that as my meaning when I said chance."

  Gaston retired, charmed with the manners and attentions of M. de Launay.