Page:Ten Years Later.djvu/185

Rh replied Baisemeanx. "But — will you be convinced by your own eyes?" he continued, with sudden impulse.

"No, certainly not."

"Not even to satisfy yourself of the resemblance which you deny, as you do the carpets?"

"Some spectral-looking person, a mere shadow; an unhappy, dying man,"

"Nothing of the kind — as brisk and vigorous a young fellow as ever lived."

"Melancholy and ill-tempered, then?"

"Not at all; very gay and lively."

"Nonsense; you are joking."

"Will you follow me?" said Baisemeaux.

"What for?"

"To go the round of the Bastile."

"Why?"

"You will then see for yourself — see with your eyes."

"But the regulations?"

"Never mind them. To-day my major has leave of absence; the lieutenant is visiting the post on the bastions; we are masters of the position."

"No, no, my dear governor; why, the very idea of the sound of the bolts makes me shudder. You will only have to forget me in the second or fourth Bertaudière, and then "

"You are refusing an opportunity that may never present itself again. Do you know that to obtain the favor I propose to you gratis some of the princes of the blood have offered me as much as fifty thousand francs."

"Really! he must be worth seeing, then?"

"Forbidden fruit, my lord; forbidden fruit. You who belong to the church ought to know that."

"Well, if I had any curiosity it would be to see the poor author of the distich."

"Very well, we will see him too; but if I were at all curious it would be about the beautiful carpeted room and its lodger."

"Furniture is very commonplace; and a face with no expression in it offers little or no interest."

"But a boarder at fifteen francs is always interesting."

"By the bye, I forgot to ask you about that. Why fifteen francs for him, and only three francs for poor Seldon?"

"The distinction made in that instance was a truly noble act, and one which displayed the king's goodness of heart to great advantage."