tioned within an inner lodge, who showed his face at the grating, and inspected the new arrival very attentively. Aramis reiterated the expression of his wish to see the governor, whereupon the sentinel called to an officer of lower grade, who was walking about in a tolerably spacious courtyard, and who, in his turn, on being informed of his object, ran to seek one of the officers of the governor's staff. The latter, after having listened to Aramis' request, begged him to wait a moment, then went away a short distance, but returned to ask his name. "I cannot tell it you, monsieur," said Aramis; "1 would only mention that I have matters of such importance to communicate to the governor that I can only rely beforehand upon one thing, that Monsieur de Baisemeaux will be delighted to see me; nay, more than that, when you shall have told him that it is the person whom he expected on the first of June, I am convinced he will hasten here himself." The officer could not possibly believe that a man of the governor's importance should put himself out for a man of so little importance as the citizen-looking person on horseback.
"It happens most fortunately, monsieur," he said, "that the governor is Just going out, and you can perceive his carriage, with the horses already harnessed, in the courtyard yonder; there will be no occasion for him to come to meet you, as he will see you as he passes by." Aramis bowed to signify his assent; he did not wish to inspire others with too exalted an opinion of himself, and therefore waited patiently and in silence, leaning upon the saddle-bow of his horse. Ten minutes had hardly elapsed when the governor's carriage was observed to move. The governor appeared at the door, got into the carriage, which immediately prepared to start. The same ceremony was observed for the governor himself as had been the case with a suspected stranger; the sentinel at the lodge advanced as the carriage was about to pass under the arch, and the governor opened the carriage-door, himself setting the example of obedience to orders; so that, in this way, the sentinel could convince himself that none quitted the Bastile improperly. The carriage rolled along under the archway, but at the moment the iron gate was opened the officer approached the carriage, which had been again stopped, and said something to the governor, who immediately put his head out of the doorway, and perceived Aramis on horseback at the end of the drawbridge. He immediately uttered almost a shout of delight, and got out, or rather darted out of his
