Александр Дюма
The Regent's Daughter
CHAPTER XXVI.
HOW LIFE PASSED IN THE BASTILLE WHILE WAITING FOR DEATH
Gaston was inclined to thank the lieutenant of police, but he refrained. It might appear as though he had been afraid. He took his hat and coat, and returned to the Bastille as he had come.
"They did not like to put a man of high birth to the torture," thought he; "they will try me and condemn me to death."
But death seemed easy when divested of the preliminary agonies which the lieutenant of police had so minutely described.
On re-entering his room, Gaston saw, almost with joy, all that had seemed so horrible to him an hour before. The prison seemed gay, the view charming, the saddest inscriptions on the walls were madrigals compared to the menacing appearance of the room he had just quitted.
The major of the Bastille came to fetch him about an hour afterward, accompanied by a turnkey.
"I understand," thought Gaston; "the governor's invitation is a pretext, in such a case, to take from the prisoner the anguish of expectation. I shall, doubtless, cross some dungeon, into which I shall fall and die. God's will be done." And, with a firm step, he followed the major, expecting every moment to be precipitated into some secret dungeon, and murmuring Helene's name, that he might die with it on his lips.
But, no accident following this poetical and loving invocation, the prisoner quietly arrived at the governor's door.
M. de Launay came to meet him.
"Will you give me your word of honor, chevalier," said he, "not to attempt to escape while you are in my house? It is understood, of course," he added, smiling, "that this parole is withdrawn as soon as you are taken back to your own room, and it is only a precaution to insure me a continuance of your society."
"I give you my word so far," said Gaston.
"'Tis well, monsieur, enter; you are expected."
And he led Gaston to a well-furnished room, where a numerous company was already assembled.
"I have the honor to present to you M. le Chevalier Gaston de Chanlay," said the governor. Then naming, in turn, each of the persons assembled —
"M. le Duc de Richelieu."
"M. le Comte de Laval."
"M. le Chevalier Dumesnil."
"M. de Malezieux."
"Ah," said Gaston, smiling, "all the Cellamare conspiracy."
"Except M. and Madame de Maine, and the Prince of Cellamare," said the Abbe Brigaud, bowing.
"Ah, monsieur," said Gaston, in a reproachful tone, "you forget the brave D'Harmental and the learned Mademoiselle de Launay."
"D'Harmental is kept in bed by his wounds," said Brigaud.
"As to Mademoiselle de Launay," said the Chevalier Dumesnil, reddening with pleasure, "here she comes; she does us the honor of dining with us."
"Present me, monsieur," said Gaston; "among prisoners we must not make ceremonies; I reckon, therefore, on you."'
And Dumesnil, taking Gaston by the hand, presented him to Mademoiselle de Launay.
Gaston could not repress a certain expression of astonishment at all he saw.
"Ah, chevalier," said the governor, "I see that, like three-quarters of the inhabitants of Paris, you thought I devoured my prisoners."
"No, monsieur," said Gaston, "but I certainly thought for a moment that I should not have had the honor of dining with you to-day." – "How so?"
"Is it the habit to give your prisoners an appetite for their dinners by the walk I have had to-day?"
"Ah, yes," cried Mademoiselle de Launay, "was it not you who were being led to the torture just now?"
"Myself, mademoiselle; and be assured that only such a hindrance would have kept me from so charming a society."
"Ah, these things are not in my jurisdiction," said the governor; "thank Heaven, I am a soldier, and not a judge. Do not confound arms and the toga, as Cicero says. My business is to keep you here, and to make your stay as agreeable as possible, so that I may have the pleasure of seeing you again. M. d'Argenson's business is to have you tortured, hanged, beheaded, put on the wheel, quartered, if possible; each to his task. Mademoiselle de Launay," added he, "dinner is ready, will you take my arm? Your pardon, Chevalier Dumesnil; you think me a tyrant, I am sure, but as host I am privileged. Gentlemen, seat yourselves."
"What a horrible thing a prison is," said Richelieu, delicately turning up his cuffs, "slavery, irons, bolts, chains."
"Shall I pass you this potage à l'écrevisses?" said the governor.
"Yes, monsieur," said the duke, "your cook does it beautifully, and I am really annoyed that mine did not conspire with me; he might have profited by his stay in the Bastille."
"There is champagne," said De Launay, "I have it direct from Ai."
"You must give me the address," said Richelieu, "for if the regent leaves me my head, I shall drink no other wine than this. I have got accustomed to it during my sojourns here, and I am a creature of habit."
"Indeed," said the governor, "you may all take example by Richelieu; he is most faithful to me; and, in fact, unless we are overcrowded, I always keep his room ready for him."
"That tyrant of a regent may force us all to keep a room here," said Brigaud.
"Monsieur de Launay," said Laval, in an angry tone, "permit me to ask if it was by your orders that I was awoke at two o'clock this morning, and the meaning of this persecution?"
"It is not my fault, monsieur; you must blame these gentlemen and ladies, who will not keep quiet, in spite of all I tell them."
"We!" cried all the guests.
"Certainly," replied the governor, "you all break through rules; I am always having reports of communications, correspondences, notes, etc."
Richelieu laughed, Dumesnil and Mademoiselle de Launay blushed.
"But we will speak of that at dessert. You do not drink, M. de Chanlay?"
"No, I am listening."
"Say that you are dreaming; you cannot deceive me thus."
"And of what?" asked Malezieux.
"Ah, it is easy to see that you are getting old, my poetical friend; of what should M. de Chanlay dream but of his love."
"Is it not better, M. de Chanlay," cried Richelieu, "to have your head separated from your body, than your body from your soul?"
"Apropos," interrupted Laval, "is there any news from the court; how is the king?"
"No politics, gentlemen, if you please," said the governor. "Let us discuss poetry, arts, war, and even the Bastille, if you like, but let us avoid politics."
"Ah, yes," said Richelieu, "let us talk of the Bastille. What have you done with Pompadour?"
"I am sorry to say he forced me to place him in the dungeon."
"What had he done?" asked Gaston.
"He had beaten his jailer."
"How long has it been forbidden for a gentleman to beat his servant?" asked Richelieu.
"The jailers are servants of the king, M. le Duc," said De Launay, smiling.
"Say rather of the regent."
"A subtle distinction."
"A just one."
"Shall I pass you the Chambertin, M. de Laval?"
"If you will drink with me to the health of the king."
"Certainly – if afterward you will drink with me to the health of the regent."
"Monsieur," said Laval, "I am no longer thirsty."
"I believe it – you have just drunk some wine from his highness's cellar."
"From the regent's?"
"He sent it me yesterday, knowing that I was to have the pleasure of your company."
"In that case," said Brigaud, throwing the contents of his glass upon the floor, "no more poison."
"Oh!" said Malezieux, "I did not know you were such a fanatic for the good cause."
"You were wrong to spill it, abbe," said Richelieu, "I know that wine, and you will hardly find such out of the Palais Royal – if it were against your principles to drink it, you should have passed it to your neighbor, or put it back in the bottle. 'Vinum in amphoram,' said my schoolmaster."
"M. le Duc," said Brigaud, "you do not know Latin as well as Spanish."
"I know French still less, and I want to learn it."
"Oh! that would be long and tedious; better get admitted into the Academy, it would be far easier."
"And do you speak Spanish?" asked Richelieu of De Chanlay.
"Report says, monsieur, that I am here for the abuse of that tongue."
"Monsieur," said the governor, "if you return to politics I must leave the table."
"Then," said Richelieu, "tell Mademoiselle de Launay to talk mathematics; that will not frighten any one."
Mademoiselle de Launay started; she had been carrying on a conversation with Dumesnil, which had been greatly exciting the jealousy of Maison-Rouge, who was in love with her.
When dinner was over, the governor conducted each guest back to his own room, and when it came to Gaston's turn he asked M. de Launay if he could have some razors, instruments which appeared necessary in a place where such elegant company was assembled.
"Monsieur le Chevalier," said the governor, "I am distressed to refuse you a thing of which I see the necessity; but it is against the rules for any one to shave themselves unless they have special permission from the lieutenant of police – no doubt you will obtain the permission if you apply for it."
"But are those gentlemen whom I met here privileged, for they were well dressed and shaved?"
"No, they all had to ask permission; the Duc de Richelieu remained for a month with a beard like a patriarch."
"I find it difficult to reconcile such severity in detail with the liberty I have just seen."
"Monsieur, I also have my privileges, which do not extend to giving you books, razors, or pens, but which allow me to invite to my table such prisoners as I choose to favor – always supposing that it is a favor. True, it is stipulated that I shall give an account of anything which is spoken against the government, but by preventing my guests from touching on politics, I avoid the necessity of betraying them."
"Is it not feared, monsieur," said Gaston, "that this intimacy between you and your prisoners should lead to indulgences on your part, which might be contrary to the intentions of the government?"
"I know my duty, monsieur, and keep within its strict limits; I receive my orders from the court, and my guests – who know that I have nothing to do with them – bear me no ill will for them. I hope you will do the same."
"The precaution was not unnecessary," said Gaston, "for doubtless I shall not long be left in the enjoyment of the pleasure I have had to-day."
"You have doubtless some protector at court?"
"None," said Gaston.
"Then you must trust to chance, monsieur."
"I have never found it propitious."
"The more reason that it should weary of persecuting you."
"I am a Breton, and Bretons trust only in God."
"Take that as my meaning when I said chance."
Gaston retired, charmed with the manners and attentions of M. de Launay.
CHAPTER XXVII.
HOW THE NIGHT PASSED IN THE BASTILLE WHILE WAITING FOR THE DAY
Gaston had already, on the preceding night, asked for a light, and been told that it was against the rules – this night he did not renew the request, but went quietly to bed; his morning's visit to the torture-room had given him a lesson in philosophy.
Thus, rather from youthful carelessness than from force of will or courage, he slept quietly and soundly.
He did not know how long he had slept when he was awoke by the sound of a small bell, which seemed to be in his room, although he could see neither bell nor ringer; it is true that the room was very dark, even by day, and doubly so at that hour. The bell, however, continued to sound distinctly, but with caution, as though it were afraid of being heard. Gaston thought the sound seemed to come from the chimney.
He rose, and approaching it gently, became convinced that he was right.
Presently he heard blows struck – under the floor on which he stepped – at regular intervals, with some blunt instrument.
It was evident that these were signals among the prisoners.
Gaston went to the window to raise the curtain of green serge which intercepted the rays of the moon, and in doing so he perceived an object hanging at the end of a string and swinging before the bars.
"Good," said he; "it appears that I shall have occupation, but each one in turn; regularity above all things; let us see what the bell wants, that was the first."
Gaston returned to the chimney, extended his hand, and soon felt a string, at the end of which a bell was hanging, he pulled, but it resisted.
"Good," said a voice, which came down the chimney, "you are there?"
"Yes," said Gaston; "what do you want?"
"Parbleu, I want to talk."
"Very well," said the chevalier, "let us talk."
"Are you not M. de Chanlay, with whom I had the pleasure of dining to-day?"
"Exactly so, monsieur."
"In that case I am at your service."
"And I at yours."
"Then have the goodness to tell me the state of the Bretagne affairs."
"You see they are in the Bastille."
"Good," said a voice, whose joyous tone Gaston could hear with ease.
"Pardon me," said Gaston, "but what interest have you in these affairs?"
"Why, when affairs are bad in Bretagne, they treat us well, and when they prosper we are treated badly; thus the other day, apropos of some affair, I do not know what, which they pretended was connected with ours, we were all put in the dungeon."
"Ah, diable!" said Gaston to himself, "if you do not know, I do." Then he added, aloud, "Well then, monsieur, be content, they are very bad, and that is perhaps the reason why we had the pleasure of dining together to-day."
"Eh, monsieur, are you compromised?"
"I fear so."
"Receive my excuses."
"I beg you, on the contrary, to accept mine, but I have a neighbor below who is becoming impatient, and who is striking hard enough to break the boards of my floor; permit me to reply to him."
"Do so, monsieur; if my topographical calculations are correct, it must be the Marquis de Pompadour."
"It will be difficult to ascertain."
"Not so difficult as you suppose."
"How so?"
"Does he not strike in a peculiar manner?"
"Yes; has it a meaning?"
"Certainly; it is our method of talking without direct communication."
"Have the kindness to give me the key to the vocabulary."
"It is not difficult; every letter has a rank in the alphabet."
"Decidedly."
"There are twenty-four letters."
"I have never counted them, but no doubt you are right."
"Well, one blow for a, two for b, three for c, and so on."
"I understand, but this method of communication must be somewhat lengthy, and I see a string at my window which is getting impatient – I will strike a blow or two to show my neighbor that I have heard him, and then attend to the string."
"Go, monsieur, I beg, for if I am not mistaken that string is of importance to me; but first strike three blows on the floor – in Bastille language that means patience; the prisoner will then wait for a new signal."
Gaston struck three blows with the leg of his chair, and the noise ceased.
He then went to the window.
It was not easy to reach the bars, but he at length succeeded in doing so and raising the string, which was gently pulled by some hand as a sign of acknowledgment.
Gaston drew the packet – which would scarcely pass the bars – toward him; it contained a pot of sweetmeats and a book. He saw that there was something written on the paper which covered the pot, but it was too dark to read it.
The string vibrated gently, to show that an answer was expected, and Gaston, remembering his neighbor's lesson, took a broom, which he saw in the corner, and struck three blows on the ceiling.
This, it will be remembered, meant patience.
The prisoner withdrew the string, freed from its burden.
Gaston returned to the chimney.
"Eh! monsieur," said he.
"All right, what is it?"
"I have just received, by means of a string, a pot of sweets and a book."
"Is not there something written on one of them?"
"About the book I do not know, but there is on the pot; unfortunately it is too dark to read."
"Wait," said the voice, "I will send a light."
"I thought lights were forbidden."
"Yes, but I have procured one."
"Well, then send it, for I am as impatient as you to know what is written to me." And Gaston, feeling cold, began to dress himself.
All at once he saw a light in his chimney; the bell came down again transformed into a lantern.
This transformation was effected in the most simple manner, the bell turned upside down, so as to form a vessel, into which some oil had been poured, and in the oil burned a little wick.
Gaston found this so ingenious that for a moment he forgot both the pot and the book. "Monsieur," said he to his neighbor, "may I, without indiscretion, ask you how you procured the different objects with which you fabricated this lamp?"
"Nothing more simple, monsieur; I asked for a bell, which was given me, then I saved some oil from my breakfasts and dinners, till I had a bottle full; I made wicks by unraveling one of my handkerchiefs; I picked up a pebble when I was walking in the yard; I made some tinder with burned linen; I stole some matches when I dined at the governor's: then I struck a light with a knife, which I possess; and with the aid of which I made the hole through which we correspond."
"Receive my compliments, monsieur, you are a man of great invention."
"Thank you, monsieur; will you now see what book has been sent you, and what is written on the paper of the pot of sweetmeats."
"Monsieur, the book is a Virgil."
"That is it – she promised it to me," cried the voice, in an accent of happiness which surprised the chevalier, who could not understand that a Virgil should be so impatiently expected.
"Now," said the prisoner with the bell, "pass on, I beg, to the pot of sweetmeats."
"Willingly," said Gaston, and he read:
"Monsieur le Chevalier – I hear from the lieutenant of the prison that you occupy the room on the first floor, which has a window immediately below mine. Prisoners should aid and help each other; eat the sweetmeats, and pass the Virgil up to the Chevalier Dumesnil, whose chimney looks into the court."
"That is what is expected," said the prisoner with the bell; "I was told at dinner to-day that I should receive this message."
"Then you are the Chevalier Dumesnil?"
"Yes, monsieur, and your humble servant."
"I am yours," replied Gaston, "I have to thank you for a pot of sweetmeats, and I shall not forget my obligation."
"In that case, monsieur," replied the prisoner, "have the kindness to detach the bell, and fasten on the Virgil instead."
"But if you have not the light, you cannot read."
"Oh, I will make another lantern."
Gaston, who trusted to his neighbor's ingenuity, after the proofs he had had of it, made no further difficulties; he took the bell, which he placed in the neck of an empty bottle, and fastened on the Virgil, conscientiously replacing a letter which fell from between the leaves.
"Thank you, monsieur," said Dumesnil; "and now, if you will reply to your neighbor below?"
"You give me liberty?"
"Yes, monsieur; though presently I shall make an appeal to your good nature."
"At your orders, monsieur; you say, then, that for the letters – ?"
"One blow for A.; twenty-four for Z."
"Thank you."
The chevalier struck a blow with the handle of the broom, to give notice to his neighbor that he was ready to enter into conversation with him; it was instantly answered by another blow.
At the end of half an hour the prisoners had succeeded in saying this —
"Good-evening, monsieur; what is your name?"
"Thank you, monsieur; I am the Chevalier Gaston de Chanlay."
"And I, the Marquis de Pompadour."
At this moment Gaston, looking toward the windows, saw the string shaking convulsively.
He struck three blows, to ask for patience, and returned to the chimney.
"Monsieur," said he to Dumesnil, "I beg you to remember that the string at the window seems prodigiously ennuyé."
"Beg her to have patience; I will attend to her presently."
Gaston renewed the signal for patience on the ceiling, and then returned to the chimney, and the Virgil soon returned.
"Monsieur," said Dumesnil, "have the goodness to fasten the Virgil to the string; that is what she wants."
Gaston had the curiosity to see if Dumesnil had replied to Mademoiselle de Launay. He opened the Virgil; there was no letter, but some words were underlined in pencil, and Gaston read: "Meos amores," and "Carceris oblivia longa." He understood this method of correspondence, which consisted in underlining words which, placed together, made sense.
"Ah," said Gaston, fastening the book to the string, "it seems that I have become the postman."
Then he sighed deeply, remembering that he had no means of corresponding with Helene, and that she was entirely ignorant what had become of him. This gave him sympathy for the attachment of Mademoiselle de Launay and the Chevalier Dumesnil. He returned to the chimney.
"Monsieur," said he, "your letter is dispatched."
"A thousand thanks, chevalier. Now a word more, and I will leave you to sleep in peace."
"Oh, say whatever you wish, monsieur."
"Have you spoken with the prisoner below?"
"Yes."
"Who is he?"
"The Marquis de Pompadour."
"I thought so. What did he say?"
"'Good-evening,' and asked who I was; he had no time to ask more; the method of communication is not as expeditious as it is ingenious."
"You must make a hole, and then you can talk as we do."
"What with?"
"I will lend you my knife."
"Thank you."
"It will serve to amuse you, at least."
"Give it me."
"Here it is."
And the knife fell at Gaston's feet.
"Now, shall I send back the bell?"
"Yes; for my jailers might miss it to-morrow morning, and you do not want light for your conversation with Pompadour."
"No; certainly not."
And the bell was drawn up.
"Now," said the chevalier, "you must have something to drink with your sweets, and I will send you a bottle of champagne."
"Thank you," said Gaston, "do not deprive yourself of it; I do not care much for it."
"Then when you have made the hole, you shall pass it to Pompadour, who is of a very different opinion. Stay, here it is."
"Thank you, chevalier."
"Good-night."
"Good-night."
And the string ascended.
Gaston looked for the string at the window, and saw that it had disappeared.
"Ah," sighed he, "the Bastille would be a palace for me, if my poor Helene were in Mademoiselle de Launay's place."
Then he resumed a conversation with Pompadour, which lasted till three in the morning, and in which he told him that he was going to pierce a hole, that they might have more direct communication.
