146 TE]Sr YEARS LATER. "I have an indistinct recollection of Monsieur Baise« meaux," said Athos. "You remember, my dear Baisemeaux, that king's guards- man with whom we used formerly to have such delightful meetings in the cardinal's time." "Perfectly," said Athos, taking leave of him with affability. "Monsieur le Comte de la Fere, whose nom de guerre was Athos," whispered D'Artagnan to Baisemeaux. "Yes, yes; a brave man, one of the celebrated four." "Precisely so. But, my dear Baisemeaux, shall we talk now /V" "If you please." "In the first place, as for the orders — there are none. The king does not intend to arrest the person in question." "So much the worse," said Baisemeaux, with a sigh. "What do you mean by so much the worse?" exclaimed D'Artagnan, laughing. "Ino doubt of it," returned the governor, "my prisoners are my income." "I beg your pardon; I did not see it in that light." "And so there are no orders," repeated Baisemeaux, with a sigh. "What an admirable situation yours is, captain," he continued, after a jDause, "captain-lieutenant of the musketeers!" "Oh, it is good enough; but I don't see why you should envy me; you, governor of the Bastile, the first castle in France." "I am well aware of that," said Baisemeaux, in a sorrow- ful tone of voice. "You say that like a man confessing his sins. I would willingly exchange my profits for yours." "Don't speak of profits to me, if you wish to save me the bitterest anguish of mind." "Why do you look first on one side, and then on the other, as if you were afraid of being arrested yourself, you whose business it is to arrest others?" "I was looking to see whether any one could see or listen to us; it would be safer to confer more in private, if you would grant me such a favor," "Baisemeaux, you seem to forget we are acquaintances of thirty-five years' standing. Don't assume such sanctified airs; make yourself quite comfortable; I don't eat governors of the Bastile raw." "Heaven be praised!"
