. The carriage proceeded along the Faubourg Saint-Antoine, and
after having called out to the sentinel, "by the king's order," the
driver conducted the horses into the circular inclosure of the Bastille,
looking out upon the courtyard, called La Cour du Gouvernement. There
the horses drew up, reeking with sweat, at the flight of steps, and a
sergeant of the guard ran forward. "Go and wake the governor," said the
coachman in a voice of thunder.

With the exception of this voice, which might have been heard at the
entrance of the Faubourg Saint-Antoine, everything remained as calm in
the carriage as in the prison. Ten minutes afterward, M. de Baisemeaux
appeared in his dressing-gown on the threshold of the door. "What is the
matter now?" he asked; "and whom have you brought me there?"

The man with the lantern opened the carriage-door, and said two or three
words to the one who acted as driver, who immediately got down from his
seat, took up a short musket which he kept under his feet, and placed
its muzzle on the prisoner's chest.

[Illustration: "WHAT IS THIS, MONSIEUR, AND WHAT IS THE MEANING OF
THIS JEST?" "IT IS NO JEST," REPLIED IN A DEEP VOICE THE MASKED FIGURE
THAT HELD THE LANTERN.--_Page 367._]

"And fire at once if he speaks!" added aloud the man who alighted from
the carriage.

"Very good!" replied his companion, without any other remark.

With this recommendation, the person who had accompanied the king in the
carriage ascended the flight of steps, at the top of which the governor
was awaiting him. "Monsieur d'Herblay!" said the latter.

"Hush!" said Aramis. "Let us go into your room."

"Good heavens! what brings you here at this hour?"

"A mistake, my dear Monsieur de Baisemeaux," Aramis replied, quietly.
"It appears that you were quite right the other day."

"What about?" inquired the governor.

"About the order of release, my dear friend."

"Tell me what you mean, monsieur--no, monseigneur," said the governor,
almost suffocated by surprise and terror.

"It is a very simple affair; you remember, dear M. de Baisemeaux, that
an order of release was sent to you."

"Yes, for Marchiali."

"Very good! we both thought that it was for Marchiali?"

"Certainly; you will recollect, however, that I would not believe it,
but that you compelled me."

"Oh! Baisemeaux, my good fellow, what a word to make use of!--strongly
recommended, that was all."

"Strongly recommended, yes; strongly recommende