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had been wanting a faithful servant； a friend； a helping
hand seemed to have fallen from Heaven just when he
expected it the least。
〃Oh； dearest Marie！ she thinks of me； then； after five years
of separation！ Heavens！ there is constancy！〃 Then turning to
Grimaud； he said：
〃And thou； my brave fellow； thou consentest thus to aid me？〃
Grimaud signified his assent。
〃And you have come here with that purpose？〃
Grimaud repeated the sign。
〃And I was ready to strangle you！〃 cried the duke。
Grimaud smiled。
〃Wait； then；〃 said the duke； fumbling in his pocket。 〃Wait；〃
he continued； renewing his fruitless search； 〃it shall not
be said that such devotion to a grandson of Henry IV。 went
without recompense。〃
The duke's endeavors evinced the best intention in the
world； but one of the precautions taken at Vincennes was
that of allowing prisoners to keep no money。 Whereupon
Grimaud； observing the duke's disappointment； drew from his
pocket a purse filled with gold and handed it to him。
〃Here is what you are looking for；〃 he said。
The duke opened the purse and wanted to empty it into
Grimaud's hands； but Grimaud shook his head。
〃Thank you； monseigneur；〃 he said； drawing back； 〃I am
paid。〃
The duke went from one surprise to another。 He held out his
hand。 Grimaud drew near and kissed it respectfully。 The
grand manner of Athos had left its mark on Grimaud。
〃What shall we do？ and when？ and how proceed？〃
〃It is now eleven；〃 answered Grimaud。 〃Let my lord at two
o'clock ask leave to make up a game at tennis with La Ramee
and let him send two or three balls over the ramparts。〃
〃And then？〃
〃Your highness will approach the walls and call out to a man
who works in the moat to send them back again。〃
〃I understand；〃 said the duke。
Grimaud made a sign that he was going away。
〃Ah！〃 cried the duke； 〃will you not accept any money from
me？〃
〃I wish my lord would make me one promise。〃
〃What！ speak！〃
〃'Tis this： when we escape together； that I shall go
everywhere and be always first； for if my lord should be
overtaken and caught； there's every chance of his being
brought back to prison； whereas if I am caught the least
that can befall me is to be hung。〃
〃True； on my honor as a gentleman it shall be as thou dost
suggest。〃
〃Now；〃 resumed Grimaud； 〃I've only one thing more to ask
that your highness will continue to detest me。〃
〃I'll try；〃 said the duke。
At this moment La Ramee； after the interview we have
described with the cardinal； entered the room。 The duke had
thrown himself； as he was wont to do in moments of dullness
and vexation； on his bed。 La Ramee cast an inquiring look
around him and observing the same signs of antipathy between
the prisoner and his guardian he smiled in token of his
inward satisfaction。 Then turning to Grimaud：
〃Very good； my friend； very good。 You have been spoken of in
a promising quarter and you will soon； I hope； have news
that will be agreeable to you。〃
Grimaud saluted in his politest manner and withdrew； as was
his custom on the entrance of his superior。
〃Well； my lord；〃 said La Ramee； with his rude laugh； 〃you
still set yourself against this poor fellow？〃
〃So！ 'tis you； La Ramee； in faith； 'tis time you came back
again。 I threw myself on the bed and turned my nose to the
wall； that I mightn't break my promise and strangle
Grimaud。〃
〃I doubt； however；〃 said La Ramee； in sprightly allusion to
the silence of his subordinate； 〃if he has said anything
disagreeable to your highness。〃
〃Pardieu！ you are right a mute from the East！ I swear it
was time for you to come back； La Ramee； and I was eager to
see you again。〃
〃Monseigneur is too good；〃 said La Ramee； flattered by the
compliment。
〃Yes；〃 continued the duke； 〃really； I feel bored today
beyond the power of description。〃
〃Then let us have a match in the tennis court；〃 exclaimed La
Ramee。
〃If you wish it。〃
〃I am at your service； my lord。〃
〃I protest； my dear La Ramee；〃 said the duke； 〃that you are
a charming fellow and that I would stay forever at Vincennes
to have the pleasure of your society。〃
〃My lord；〃 replied La Ramee； 〃I think if it depended on the
cardinal your wishes would be fulfilled。〃
〃What do you mean？ Have you seen him lately？〃
〃He sent for me to…day。〃
〃Really！ to speak to you about me？〃
〃Of what else do you imagine he would speak to me？ Really；
my lord； you are his nightmare。〃
The duke smiled with bitterness。
〃Ah； La Ramee！ if you would but accept my offers！ I would
make your fortune。〃
〃How？ you would no sooner have left prison than your goods
would be confiscated。〃
〃I shall no sooner be out of prison than I shall be master
of Paris。〃
〃Pshaw！ pshaw！ I cannot hear such things said as that； this
is a fine conversation with an officer of the king！ I see；
my lord； I shall be obliged to fetch a second Grimaud！〃
〃Very well； let us say no more about it。 So you and the
cardinal have been talking about me？ La Ramee； some day when
he sends for you； you must let me put on your clothes； I
will go in your stead； I will strangle him； and upon my
honor； if that is made a condition I will return to prison。〃
〃Monseigneur； I see well that I must call Grimaud。〃
〃Well； I am wrong。 And what did the cuistre ＇pettifogger＇
say about me？〃
〃I admit the word； monseigneur； because it rhymes with
ministre ＇minister＇。 What did he say to me？ He told me to
watch you。〃
〃And why so？ why watch me？〃 asked the duke uneasily。
〃Because an astrologer had predicted that you would escape。〃
〃Ah！ an astrologer predicted that？〃 said the duke； starting
in spite of himself。
〃Oh； mon Dieu！ yes！ those imbeciles of magicians can only
imagine things to torment honest people。〃
〃And what did you reply to his most illustrious eminence？〃
〃That if the astrologer in question made almanacs I would
advise him not to buy one。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃Because before you could escape you would have to be turned
into a bird。〃
〃Unfortunately； that is true。 Let us go and have a game at
tennis； La Ramee。〃
〃My lord I beg your highness's pardon but I must beg
for half an hour's leave of absence。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Because Monseigneur Mazarin is a prouder man than his
highness； though not of such high birth： he forgot to ask me
to breakfast。〃
〃Well； shall I send for some breakfast here？〃
〃No； my lord； I must tell you that the confectioner who
lived opposite the castle Daddy Marteau； as they called
him 〃
〃Well？〃
〃Well； he sold his business a week ago to a confectioner
from Paris； an invalid； ordered country air for his health。〃
〃Well； what have I to do with that？〃
〃Why； good Lord！ this man； your highness； when he saw me
stop before his shop； where he has a display of things which
would make your mouth water； my lord； asked me to get him
the custom of the prisoners in the donjon。 ‘I bought；' said
he； ‘the business of my predecessor on the strength of his
assurance that he supplied the castle； whereas； on my honor；
Monsieur de Chavigny； though I've been here a week； has not
ordered so much as a tartlet。' ‘But；' I then replied；
‘probably Monsieur de Chavigny is afraid your pastry is not
good。' ‘My pastry not good！ Well； Monsieur La Ramee； you
shall judge of it yourself and at once。' ‘I cannot；' I
replied； ‘it is