Page:Ten Years Later.djvu/188

176 those gloomy dungeons, moistened with tears, there conld be but little doubt he was overcome by his feelings, for his head was bowed and his eyes became dim as he followed Baisemeaux without uttering a syllable.

the second flight of stairs, whether from fatigue or emotion, the breathing of the visitor began to fail him, and he leaned against the wall. "Will you begin by this one?" said Baisemeaux; "for since we are going to both, it matters very little whether we ascend from the second to the third story, or descend from the third to the second."

"No, no," exclaimed Aramis eagerly, "higher, if you please; the one above is the more urgent." They continued their ascent. "Ask the jailer for the keys?" whispered Aramis. Baisemeaux did so, took the keys, and himself opened the door of the third room. The jailer was the first to enter; he placed upon the table the provisions, which the kind-hearted governor called dainties, and then left the room. The prisoner had not stirred; Baisemeaux then entered, while Aramis remained at the threshold, from which place he saw a youth about eighteen years of age, who, raising his head at the unusual noise, jumped off the bed as he perceived the governor, and clasping his hands together, began to cry out, "My mother, my mother!" in tones which betrayed such deep distress that Aramis, despite his command over himself, felt a shudder pass through his frame. "My dear boy," said Baisemeaux, endeavoring to smile, "I have brought you a diversion and an extra — the one for the mind, the other for the body; this gentleman has come to take your measure, and here are some preserves for your dessert."

"Oh, monsieur!" exclaimed the young man, "keep me in solitude for a year, let me have nothing but bread and water for a year, but tell me that at the end of a year I shall leave this place, tell me that at the end of a year I shall then see my mother again."

"But I have heard you say that your mother was very poor, and that you were very badly lodged when you were living with her, while here — upon my word!"

"If she were poor, monsieur, the greater reason to restore