shman.
I see it. Ah! I even recollect that under this name there was a blot of
ink."

"No, there is no ink; no, there is no blot."

"Oh! but there was, though; I know it, because I rubbed the powder that
was over the blot."

"In a word, be it how it may, dear M. Baisemeaux," said Aramis, "and
whatever you may have seen, the order is signed to release Marchiali,
blot or no blot."

"The order is signed to release Marchiali!" repeated Baisemeaux,
mechanically endeavoring to regain his courage.

"And you are going to release this prisoner. If your heart dictates to
you to deliver Seldon also, I declare to you I will not oppose it the
least in the world." Aramis accompanied this remark with a smile, the
irony of which effectually dispelled Baisemeaux's confusion of mind, and
restored his courage.

"Monseigneur," he said, "this Marchiali is the very same prisoner whom
the other day a priest, confessor of _our order_, came to visit in so
imperious and so secret a manner."

"I don't know that, monsieur," replied the bishop.

"'Tis no such long time ago, dear Monsieur d'Herblay."

"It is true. But _with us_, monsieur, it is good that the man of to-day
should no longer know what the man of yesterday did."

"In any case," said Baisemeaux, "the visit of the Jesuit confessor must
have given happiness to this man."

Aramis made no reply, but recommenced eating and drinking. As for
Baisemeaux, no longer touching anything that was on the table, he again
took up the order and examined it in every way. This investigation,
under ordinary circumstances, would have made the ears of the impatient
Aramis burn with anger; but the bishop of Vannes did not become incensed
for so little, above all, when he had murmured to himself that to do so
was dangerous. "Are you going to release Marchiali?" he said. "What
mellow and fragrant sherry this is, my dear governor."

"Monseigneur," replied Baisemeaux, "I shall release the prisoner
Marchiali when I have summoned the courier who brought the order, and
above all, when, by interrogating him, I have satisfied myself."

"The order is sealed, and the courier is ignorant of the contents. What
do you want to satisfy yourself about?"

"Be it so, monseigneur; but I shall send to the ministry, and M. de
Lyonne will either confirm or withdraw the order."

"What is the good of all that?" asked Aramis, coldly.

"What good?"

"Yes; what is your object, I ask?"

"The object of never deceivin