pplied the castle; whereas, on
my honor, Monsieur de Chavigny, though I've been here a week, has not
ordered so much as a tartlet.' 'But,' I then replied, 'probably Monsieur
de Chavigny is afraid your pastry is not good.' 'My pastry not good!
Well, Monsieur La Ramee, you shall judge of it yourself and at once.' 'I
cannot,' I replied; 'it is absolutely necessary for me to return to the
chateau.' 'Very well,' said he, 'go and attend to your affairs, since
you seem to be in a hurry, but come back in half an hour.' 'In half an
hour?' 'Yes, have you breakfasted?' 'Faith, no.' 'Well, here is a pate
that will be ready for you, with a bottle of old Burgundy.' So, you see,
my lord, since I am hungry, I would, with your highness's leave----" And
La Ramee bent low.

"Go, then, animal," said the duke; "but remember, I only allow you half
an hour."

"May I promise your custom to the successor of Father Marteau, my lord?"

"Yes, if he does not put mushrooms in his pies; thou knowest that
mushrooms from the wood of Vincennes are fatal to my family."

La Ramee went out, but in five minutes one of the officers of the guard
entered in compliance with the strict orders of the cardinal that the
prisoner should never be left alone a moment.

But during these five minutes the duke had had time to read again the
note from Madame de Montbazon, which proved to the prisoner that his
friends were concerting plans for his deliverance, but in what way he
knew not.

But his confidence in Grimaud, whose petty persecutions he now perceived
were only a blind, increased, and he conceived the highest opinion of
his intellect and resolved to trust entirely to his guidance.

19. In which the Contents of the Pates made by the Successor of Father
Marteau are described.

In half an hour La Ramee returned, full of glee, like most men who have
eaten, and more especially drank to their heart's content. The pates
were excellent, the wine delicious.

The weather was fine and the game at tennis took place in the open air.

At two o'clock the tennis balls began, according to Grimaud's
directions, to take the direction of the moat, much to the joy of La
Ramee, who marked fifteen whenever the duke sent a ball into the moat;
and very soon balls were wanting, so many had gone over. La Ramee then
proposed to send some one to pick them up, but the duke remarked that
it would be losing time; and going near the rampart himself and looking
over, he saw