ght of.

Six o'clock came, and although the dinner-hour was fixed for seven,
the table was already spread, and the enormous pie placed upon the
side-board. Every body was impatient for something: the guards to go
and drink, La Ramee to dine, and Monsieur de Beaufort to escape.
Grimaud was the only one who seemed to be waiting for nothing, and to
remain perfectly calm; and at times when the duke looked at his dull,
immoveable countenance, he almost doubted whether that could be the
man who was to aid his projected flight.

At half-past six La Ramee dismissed the guards, the duke sat down at
the table, and signed to his jailer to take a chair opposite to him.
Grimaud served the soup, and stationed himself behind La Ramee. The
most perfect enjoyment was depicted on the countenance of the latter,
as he commenced the repast from which he had been anticipating so much
pleasure. The duke looked at him with a smile.

"Ventre St Gris! La Ramee," cried he, "if I were told that at this
moment there is in all France a happier man than yourself, I would not
believe it."

"And you would be quite right not to do so, Monseigneur," said La
Ramee. "I confess that, when I am hungry, I know no pleasure equal to
that of sitting down to a good dinner; and when I remember that my
Amphitryon is the grandson of Henry the Fourth, the pleasure is at
least doubled by the honour done to me."

The duke bowed. "My dear La Ramee," said he, "you are unequaled in the
art of paying compliments."

"It is no compliment, Monseigneur," said La Ramee; "I say exactly what
I think."

"You are really attached to me then?" said the duke.

"Most sincerely," replied La Ramee; "and I should be inconsolable if
your highness were to leave Vincennes."

"A singular proof of affection that!" returned the duke.

"But, Monseigneur," continued La Ramee, sipping at a glass of Madeira,
"what would you do if you were set at liberty? You would only get into
some new scrape, and be sent to the Bastile instead of to Vincennes."

"Indeed!" said the duke, considerably amused at the turn the
conversation was taking, and glancing at the clock, of which the
hands, as he thought, advanced more slowly than usual.

"M. de Chavigny is not very amiable," said La Ramee, "but M. de
Tremblay is a great deal worse. You may depend, Monseigneur, that it
was a real kindness to send you here, where you breathe a fine air,
and have nothing to do but to eat and drink, and play at ball