Page:The Man in the Iron Mask.djvu/76

62 and looking at the bishop of Vannes, who, booted like a cavalier, dressed in gray and sword at side, kept talking of his hunger and testifying the liveliest impatience. M. de Baisemeaux de Montlezun was not accustomed to the unbending movements of his greatness, my lord of Vannes, and this evening Aramis, becoming quite sprightly, volunteered confidence on confidence. The prelate had again a little touch of the musketeer about him. The bishop just trenched on the borders only of license in his style of conversation. As for M. de Baisemeaux, with the facility of vulgar people, he gave himself up entirely upon this point of his guest's freedom.

"Monsieur," said he, "for indeed to-night I dare not call you monseigneur."

"By no means," said Aramis; "call me monsieur; I am booted."

"Do you know, monsieur, of whom you remind me this evening?"

"No, faith!" said Aramis, taking up his glass; "but I hope I remind you of a capital guest."

"You remind me of two, monsieur. François, shut the window; the wind may annoy his greatness."

"And let him go," added Aramis. "The supper is completely served, and we shall eat it very well without waiters. I like extremely to be tête-à-tête when I am with a friend."

Baisemeaux bowed respectfully.

"I like extremely," continued Aramis, "to help myself."

"Retire, François," cried Baisemeaux. "I was saying that your greatness puts me in mind of two persons: one very illustrious, the late cardinal, the great Cardinal de la Kochelle, who wore boots like you."

"Indeed!" said Aramis; "and the other?"

"The other was a certain musketeer, very handsome, very brave, very adventurous, very fortunate, who, from being abbé, turned musketeer, and from musketeer turned abbé." Aramis condescended to smile. "From abbé," continued Baisemeaux, encouraged by Aramis' smile—"from abbé, bishop—and from bishop"

"Ah! stay there, I beg!" exclaimed Aramis.

"I say, monsieur, that you gave me the idea of a cardinal."

"Enough, dear Monsieur Baisemeaux. As you said, I have on the boots of a cavalier, but I do not intend, for all that, to imbroil myself with the church this evening."

"But you have wicked intentions, however, monseigneur."

"Oh, yes, wicked, I own, as everything mundane is."