Page:Ten Years Later.djvu/183

Rh "Excuse me, my dear governor; but you speak a language which requires an apprenticeship to understand."

"Very true," said the governor, "Allow me to explain: the second Bertaudière is the person who occupies the second floor of the tower of the Bertaudière."

"So that Bertaudière is the name of one of the towers of the Bastile? The fact is, I think I recollect hearing that each tower has a name of its own. Whereabouts is the one you are speaking of?"

"Look," said Baisemeaux, going to the window. "It is that tower to the left — the second one."

"Is the prisoner at fifteen francs there?"

"Yes."

"Since when?"

"Seven or eight years, nearly."

"What do you mean by nearly? Do you not know the dates more precisely?"

"It was not in my time, dear Monsieur d'Herblay."

"But I should have thought that Louvière or Tremblay would have told you."

"The secrets of the Bastile are never handed over with the keys of the governorship of it."

"Indeed! Then the cause of his imprisonment is a mystery — a state secret."

"Oh, no! I do not suppose it is a state secret, but a secret like everything else that happens at the Bastile."

"But," said Aramis, "why do you speak more freely of Seldon than of the second Bertaudière?"

"Because, in my opinion, the crime of the man who writes a distich is not so great as that of the man who resembles "

"Yes, yes; I understand you. Still, do not the turn-keys talk with your prisoners?"

"Of course."

"The prisoners, I suppose, tell them they are not guilty?"

"They are always telling them that; it is a matter of course; the same song over and over again."

"But does not the resemblance you Avere speaking about just now strike the turnkeys?"

"My dear Monsieur d'Herblay, it is only for men attached to the court, as you are, to take any trouble about such matters."

"You're right, you're right, my dear Monsieur Baisemeaux. Let me give you another taste of this Volnay."

"Not a taste merely, a full glass; fill yours, too."