Part 27 (1/2)
”It is true, quite true,” said Baisehly alarmed; ”but I have not spoken of the circuneur, that I perfectly rely on your discretion”
”Oh, be easy”
”Do you still wish to see the note?”
”Certainly”
While engaged in this overnor's apartister, like the one he had already shown Ara one of a small bunch which Baise the book upon the table, he opened it at the letter ”M,” and showed Ara note in the column of observations: ”No books at any time; all linen and clothes of the finest and best quality to be procured; no exercise; always the same jailer; no communications with any one Musical instruence which his welfare may require; to be boarded at fifteen francs M de Baisemeaux can claim more if the fifteen francs be not sufficient”
”Ah,” said Baisemeaux, ”now I think of it, I shall claim it”
Aramis shut the book ”Yes,” he said, ”it is indeed M de Mazarin's handwriting; I recognize it well Now, overnor,” he continued, as if this last communication had exhausted his interest, ”let us now turn over to our own little affairs”
”Well, what time for repayment do you wish me to take? Fix it yourself”
”There need not be any particular period fixed; give ement for one hundred and fifty thousand francs”
”When to be made payable?”
”When I require it; but, you understand, I shall only wish it when you yourself do”
”Oh, I a; ”but I have already given you two receipts”
”Which I now destroy,” said Ara shown the two receipts to Baisereat a ly wrote out an acknowledgement of a debt of one hundred and fifty thousand francs, payable at the pleasure of the prelate Araovernor's shoulder, followed the pen as he wrote, put the acknowledge to have read it, which made Baisery with me if I were to carry off one of your prisoners?”
”What do youhis pardon, of course Have I not already told you that I took a great interest in poor Seldon?”
”Yes, quite true, you did so”
”Well?”
”That is your affair; do as you think proper I see you have an open hand, and an arreat way”
”Adieu, adieu” And Araovernor's best wishes
Chapter XXVI The Two Friends
At the very ti Arae drew up at Mada wohted, her head muffled in a silk hood When the servants announced Madaed, or rather was absorbed, in reading a letter, which she hurriedly concealed She had hardly finished herstill in the next roouerite Vanel, Madame de Belliere ran to meet her She fancied she could detect in her friend's eyes a brightness which was neither that of health nor of pleasure Marguerite embraced her, pressed her hands, and hardly allowed her tiotten iven yourself up to the pleasures of the court?”
”I have not even seen thewith yourself, then?”
”I a ready to leave for Belliere”
”For Belliere?”
”Yes”
”You are becoht to see you so disposed But you are pale”
”No, I a uneasy about you You do not knohat I have been told”
”People say so ular”
”Hoell you kno to excite curiosity, Marguerite”
”Well, I was afraid of vexing you”
”Never; you have yourself always admired me for my evenness of temper”
”Well, then, it is said that-no, I shall never be able to tell you”
”Do not let us talk about it, then,” said Madame de Belliere, who detected the ill-nature that was concealed by all these prefaces, yet felt the most anxious curiosity on the subject
”Well, then, er continue to regret Monsieur de Belliere as you used to”
”It is an ill-natured report, Marguerite I do regret, and shall always regret, my husband; but it is noo years since he died I aht not always to control every action and thought of uerite, who are the model of a wife, would not believe me if I were to say so”
”Why not? Your heart is so soft and yielding,” she said, spitefully
”Yours is so, too, Marguerite, and yet I did not perceive that you allowed yourself to be overcorief when your heart ounded” These words were in direct allusion to Marguerite's rupture with the superintendent, and were also a veiled but direct reproach ainst her friend's heart
As if she only awaited this signal to discharge her shaft, Marguerite exclaimed, ”Well, Elise, it is said you are in love” And she looked fixedly at Madaainst her will
”Women can never escape slander,” replied the marquise, after a moment's pause
”No one slanders you, Elise”
”What!-people say that I am in love, and yet they do not slander me!”