"Goon，I
prayyou，"saidAramis。
"DamePerronnettecamerunningup，hearingthegovernor'scries。？Hewenttomeether，tookherbythearm，anddrewherquicklytowardstheedge;afterwhich，astheybothbentoverittogether，'Look，look，'criedhe，'whatamisfortune！'
"'Calmyourself，calmyourself，'saidPerronnette;'whatisthematter？'
"'Theletter！'heexclaimed;'doyouseethatletter？'pointingtothebottomofthewell。
"'Whatletter？'shecried。
"'Theletteryouseedownthere;thelastletterfromthequeen。'
"AtthiswordItrembled。？Mytutor—hewhopassedformyfather，hewhowascontinuallyrecommendingmemodestyandhumility—incorrespondencewiththequeen！
"'Thequeen'slastletter！'criedPerronnette，withoutshowingmoreastonishmentthanatseeingthisletteratthebottomofthewell;'buthowcameitthere？'
"'Achance，DamePerronnette—asingularchance。？I
wasenteringmyroom，andonopeningthedoor，thewindow，too，beingopen，apuffofaircamesuddenlyandcarriedoffthispaper—thisletterofhermajesty's;Idartedafterit，andgainedthewindowjustintimetoseeitflutteramomentinthebreezeanddisappeardownthewell。'
"'Well，'
saidDamePerronnette;'andiftheletterhasfallenintothewell，'tisallthesameasifitwasburnt;andasthequeenburnsallherletterseverytimeshecomes—'
"Andsoyouseethisladywhocameeverymonthwasthequeen，"saidtheprisoner。
"'Doubtless，doubtless，'continuedtheoldgentleman;'butthislettercontainedinstructions—howcanIfollowthem？'
"'Writeimmediatelytoher;giveheraplainaccountoftheaccident，andthequeenwillnodoubtwriteyouanotherletterinplaceofthis。'
"'Oh！thequeenwouldneverbelievethestory，'saidthegoodgentleman，shakinghishead;'shewillimaginethatIwanttokeepthisletterinsteadofgivingitupliketherest，soastohaveaholdoverher。？Sheissodistrustful，andM。deMazarinso—YondevilofanItalianiscapableofhavinguspoisonedatthefirstbreathofsuspicion。'"
Aramisalmostimperceptiblysmiled。
"'Youknow，DamePerronnette，theyarebothsosuspiciousinallthatconcernsPhilippe。'
"Philippewasthenametheygaveme，"saidtheprisoner。
"'Well，'tisnousehesitating，'saidDamePerronnette，'somebodymustgodownthewell。'
"'Ofcourse;sothatthepersonwhogoesdownmayreadthepaperasheiscomingup。'
"'Butletuschoosesomevillagerwhocannotread，andthenyouwillbeatease。'
"'Granted;
butwillnotanyonewhodescendsguessthatapapermustbeimportantforwhichweriskaman'slife？？However，youhavegivenmeanidea，DamePerronnette;somebodyshallgodownthewell，butthatsomebodyshallbemyself。'
"ButatthisnotionDamePerronnettelamentedandcriedinsuchamanner，andsoimploredtheoldnobleman，withtearsinhereyes，thathepromisedhertoobtainaladderlongenoughtoreachdown，whileshewentinsearchofsomestout—heartedyouth，whomshewastopersuadethatajewelhadfallenintothewell，andthatthisjewelwaswrappedinapaper。？'Andaspaper，'remarkedmypreceptor，'naturallyunfoldsinwater，theyoungmanwouldnotbesurprisedatfindingnothing，afterall，buttheletterwideopen。'
"'Butperhapsthewritingwillbealreadyeffacedbythattime，'saidDamePerronnette。
"'Noconsequence，providedwesecuretheletter。？Onreturningittothequeen，shewillseeatoncethatwehavenotbetrayedher;andconsequently，asweshallnotrousethedistrustofMazarin，weshallhavenothingtofearfromhim。'
"Havingcometothisresolution，theyparted。？I
pushedbacktheshutter，and，seeingthatmytutorwasabouttore—enter，I
threwmyselfonmycouch，inaconfusionofbraincausedbyallIhadjustheard。？Mygovernoropenedthedoorafewmomentsafter，andthinkingIwasasleepgentlycloseditagain。？Assoonaseveritwasshut，Irose，and，listening，heardthesoundofretiringfootsteps。？ThenIreturnedtotheshutters，andsawmytutorandDamePerronnettegoouttogether。？Iwasaloneinthehouse。？TheyhadhardlyclosedthegatebeforeIsprangfromthewindowandrantothewell。？Then，justasmygovernorhadleanedover，soleanedI。？Somethingwhiteandluminousglistenedinthegreenandquiveringsilenceofthewater。？Thebrilliantdiskfascinatedandalluredme;myeyesbecamefixed，andIcouldhardlybreathe。？Thewellseemedtodrawmedownwardswithitsslimymouthandicybreath;andIthoughtIread，atthebottomofthewater，charactersoffiretracedupontheletterthequeenhadtouched。？Then，scarcelyknowingwhatIwasabout，andurgedonbyoneofthoseinstinctiveimpulseswhichdrivementodestruction，Iloweredthecordfromthewindlassofthewelltowithinaboutthreefeetofthewater，leavingthebucketdangling，atthesametimetakinginfinitepainsnottodisturbthatcovetedletter，whichwasbeginningtochangeitswhitetintforthehueofchrysoprase，—proofenoughthatitwassinking，—andthen，withtheropewelteringinmyhands，sliddownintotheabyss。？WhenIsawmyselfhangingoverthedarkpool，whenIsawtheskylesseningabovemyhead，acoldshuddercameoverme，achillfeargotthebetterofme，Iwasseizedwithgiddiness，andthehairroseonmyhead;butmystrongwillstillreignedsupremeoveralltheterroranddisquietude。？Igainedthewater，andatonceplungedintoit，holdingonbyonehand，whileIimmersedtheotherandseizedthedearletter，which，alas！cameintwoinmygrasp。？Iconcealedthetwofragmentsinmybody—coat，and，helpingmyselfwithmyfeetagainstthesidesofthepit，andclingingonwithmyhands，agileandvigorousasIwas，and，aboveall，pressedfortime，Iregainedthebrink，drenchingitasItoucheditwiththewaterthatstreamedoffme。？Iwasnosooneroutofthewellwithmyprize，thanIrushedintothesunlight，andtookrefugeinakindofshrubberyatthebottomofthegarden。？AsI
enteredmyhiding—place，thebellwhichresoundedwhenthegreatgatewasopened，rang。？Itwasmypreceptorcomebackagain。？Ihadbutjusttime。？Icalculatedthatitwouldtaketenminutesbeforehewouldgainmyplaceofconcealment，evenif，guessingwhereIwas，hecamestraighttoit;andtwentyifhewereobligedtolookforme。？Butthiswastimeenoughtoallowmetoreadthecherishedletter，whosefragmentsIhastenedtouniteagain。？Thewritingwasalreadyfading，butI
managedtodecipheritall。
"Andwillyoutellmewhatyoureadtherein，monseigneur？"askedAramis，deeplyinterested。
"Quiteenough，monsieur，toseethatmytutorwasamanofnoblerank，andthatPerronnette，withoutbeingaladyofquality，wasfarbetterthanaservant;
andalsotoperceivedthatImustmyselfbehigh—born，sincethequeen，AnneofAustria，andMazarin，theprimeminister，commendedmesoearnestlytotheircare。"？Heretheyoungmanpaused，quiteovercome。
"Andwhathappened？"askedAramis。
"Ithappened，monsieur，"answeredhe，"thattheworkmentheyhadsummonedfoundnothinginthewell，aftertheclosestsearch;thatmygovernorperceivedthatthebrinkwasallwatery;thatIwasnotsodriedbythesunastopreventDamePerronnettespyingthatmygarmentsweremoist;and，lastly，thatIwasseizedwithaviolentfever，owingtothechillandtheexcitementofmydiscovery，anattackofdeliriumsupervening，duringwhichIrelatedthewholeadventure;sothat，guidedbymyavowal，mygovernorfoundthepiecesofthequeen'sletterinsidethebolsterwhereIhadconcealedthem。"
"Ah！"
saidAramis，"nowIunderstand。"
"Beyondthis，allisconjecture。？Doubtlesstheunfortunateladyandgentleman，notdaringtokeeptheoccurrencesecret，wroteofallthistothequeenandsentbackthetornletter。"
"Afterwhich，"
saidAramis，"youwerearrestedandremovedtotheBastile。"
"Asyousee。"
"Yourtwoattendantsdisappeared？"
"Alas！"
"Letusnottakeupourtimewiththedead，butseewhatcanbedonewiththeliving。？Youtoldmeyouwereresigned。"
"Irepeatit。"
"Withoutanydesireforfreedom？"
"AsItoldyou。"
"Withoutambition，sorrow，orthought？"
Theyoungmanmadenoanswer。
"Well，"
askedAramis，"whyareyousilent？"
"IthinkI
havespokenenough，"answeredtheprisoner，"andthatnowitisyourturn。？Iamweary。"
Aramisgatheredhimselfup，andashadeofdeepsolemnityspreaditselfoverhiscountenance。？Itwasevidentthathehadreachedthecrisisintheparthehadcometotheprisontoplay。？"Onequestion，"saidAramis。
"Whatisit？speak。"
"Inthehouseyouinhabitedtherewereneitherlooking—glassesnormirrors？"
"Whatarethosetwowords，andwhatistheirmeaning？"askedtheyoungman;"I
havenosortofknowledgeofthem。"
"Theydesignatetwopiecesoffurniturewhichreflectobjects;sothat，forinstance，youmayseeinthemyourownlineaments，asyouseeminenow，withthenakedeye。"
"No;therewasneitheraglassnoramirrorinthehouse，"answeredtheyoungman。
Aramislookedroundhim。？"Noristhereanythingofthekindhere，either，"hesaid;"theyhaveagaintakenthesameprecaution。"
"Towhatend？"
"Youwillknowdirectly。？Now，youhavetoldmethatyouwereinstructedinmathematics，astronomy，fencing，andriding;butyouhavenotsaidawordabouthistory。"
"Mytutorsometimesrelatedtometheprincipaldeedsoftheking，St。Louis，KingFrancisI。，andKingHenryIV。"
"Isthatall？"
"Verynearly。"
"Thisalsowasdonebydesign，then;justastheydeprivedyouofmirrors，whichreflectthepresent，sotheyleftyouinignoranceofhistory，whichreflectsthepast。？Sinceyourimprisonment，bookshavebeenforbiddenyou;sothatyouareunacquaintedwithanumberoffacts，bymeansofwhichyouwouldbeabletoreconstructtheshatteredmansionofyourrecollectionsandyourhopes。"
"Itistrue，"saidtheyoungman。
"Listen，then;IwillinafewwordstellyouwhathaspassedinFranceduringthelasttwenty—threeortwenty—fouryears;thatis，fromtheprobabledateofyourbirth;inaword，fromthetimethatinterestsyou。"
"Sayon。"？Andtheyoungmanresumedhisseriousandattentiveattitude。
"DoyouknowwhowasthesonofHenryIV。？"
"AtleastI
knowwhohissuccessorwas。"
"How？"
"Bymeansofacoindated1610，whichbearstheeffigyofHenryIV。;andanotherof1612，bearingthatofLouisXIII。？SoI
presumedthat，therebeingonlytwoyearsbetweenthetwodates，LouiswasHenry'ssuccessor。"
"Then，"
saidAramis，"youknowthatthelastreigningmonarchwasLouisXIII。？"
"I
do，"answeredtheyouth，slightlyreddening。
"Well，hewasaprincefullofnobleideasandgreatprojects，always，alas！deferredbythetroubleofthetimesandthedreadstrugglethathisministerRichelieuhadtomaintainagainstthegreatnoblesofFrance。？Thekinghimselfwasofafeeblecharacter，anddiedyoungandunhappy。"
"Iknowit。"
"Hehadbeenlonganxiousabouthavingaheir;acarewhichweighsheavilyonprinces，whodesiretoleavebehindthemmorethanonepledgethattheirbestthoughtsandworkswillbecontinued。"
"Didtheking，then，diechildless？"askedtheprisoner，smiling。
"No，buthewaslongwithoutone，andforalongwhilethoughtheshouldbethelastofhisrace。？Thisideahadreducedhimtothedepthsofdespair，whensuddenly，hiswife，AnneofAustria—"
Theprisonertrembled。
"Didyouknow，"saidAramis，"thatLouisXIII。'swifewascalledAnneofAustria？"
"Continue，"
saidtheyoungman，withoutreplyingtothequestion。
"Whensuddenly，"resumedAramis，"thequeenannouncedaninterestingevent。？Therewasgreatjoyattheintelligence，andallprayedforherhappydelivery。？Onthe5thofSeptember，1638，shegavebirthtoason。"
HereAramislookedathiscompanion，andthoughtheobservedhimturningpale。？"Youareabouttohear，"saidAramis，"anaccountwhichfewindeedcouldnowavouch;foritreferstoasecretwhichtheyimaginedburiedwiththedead，entombedintheabyssoftheconfessional。"
"Andyouwilltellmethissecret？"brokeintheyouth。
"Oh！"
saidAramis，withunmistakableemphasis，"IdonotknowthatIoughttoriskthissecretbyintrustingittoonewhohasnodesiretoquittheBastile。"
"Ihearyou，monsieur。"
"Thequeen，then，gavebirthtoason。？Butwhilethecourtwasrejoicingovertheevent，whenthekinghadshowthenew—bornchildtothenobilityandpeople，andwassittinggaylydowntotable，tocelebratetheevent，thequeen，whowasaloneinherroom，wasagaintakenillandgavebirthtoasecondson。"
"Oh！"
saidtheprisoner，betrayingabitteracquaintancewithaffairsthanhehadownedto，"IthoughtthatMonsieurwasonlybornin—"
Aramisraisedhisfinger;"Permitmetocontinue，"hesaid。
Theprisonersighedimpatiently，andpaused。
"Yes，"
saidAramis，"thequeenhadasecondson，whomDamePerronnette，themidwife，receivedinherarms。"
"DamePerronnette！"murmuredtheyoungman。
"Theyranatoncetothebanqueting—room，andwhisperedtothekingwhathadhappened;heroseandquittedthetable。？Butthistimeitwasnolongerhappinessthathisfaceexpressed，butsomethingakintoterror。？Thebirthoftwinschangedintobitternessthejoytowhichthatofanonlysonhadgivenrise，seeingthatinFrance（afactyouareassuredlyignorantof）itistheoldestoftheking'ssonswhosucceedshisfather。"
"Iknowit。"
"Andthatthedoctorsandjuristsassertthatthereisgroundfordoubtingwhetherthesonthatfirstmakeshisappearanceistheelderbythelawofheavenandofnature。"
Theprisonerutteredasmotheredcry，andbecamewhiterthanthecoverletunderwhichhehidhimself。
"Nowyouunderstand，"pursuedAramis，"thattheking，whowithsomuchpleasuresawhimselfrepeatedinone，wasindespairabouttwo;fearingthatthesecondmightdisputethefirst'sclaimtoseniority，whichhadbeenrecognizedonlytwohoursbefore;andsothissecondson，relyingonpartyinterestsandcaprices，mightonedaysowdiscordandengendercivilwarthroughoutthekingdom;bythesemeansdestroyingtheverydynastyheshouldhavestrengthened。"
"Oh，I
understand！—Iunderstand！"murmuredtheyoungman。
"Well，"
continuedAramis;"thisiswhattheyrelate，whattheydeclare;thisiswhyoneofthequeen'stwosons，shamefullypartedfromhisbrother，shamefullysequestered，isburiedinprofoundobscurity;thisiswhythatsecondsonhasdisappeared，andsocompletely，thatnotasoulinFrance，savehismother，isawareofhisexistence。"
"Yes！hismother，whohascasthimoff，"criedtheprisonerinatoneofdespair。
"Except，also，"Aramiswenton，"theladyintheblackdress;and，finally，excepting—"
"Exceptingyourself—isitnot？？Youwhocomeandrelateallthis;you，whorouseinmysoulcuriosity，hatred，ambition，and，perhaps，eventhethirstofvengeance;exceptyou，monsieur，who，ifyouarethemantowhomIexpect，whomthenoteIhavereceivedappliesto，whom，inshort，Heavenoughttosendme，mustpossessaboutyou—"
"What？"
askedAramis。
"Aportraitoftheking，LouisXIV。，whoatthismomentreignsuponthethroneofFrance。"
"Hereistheportrait，"repliedthebishop，handingtheprisoneraminiatureinenamel，onwhichLouiswasdepictedlife—like，withahandsome，loftymien。？Theprisonereagerlyseizedtheportrait，andgazedatitwithdevouringeyes。
"Andnow，monseigneur，"saidAramis，"hereisamirror。"？Aramislefttheprisonertimetorecoverhisideas。
"Sohigh！—
sohigh！"murmuredtheyoungman，eagerlycomparingthelikenessofLouiswithhisowncountenancereflectedintheglass。
"Whatdoyouthinkofit？"atlengthsaidAramis。
"IthinkthatIamlost，"repliedthecaptive;"thekingwillneversetmefree。"
"AndI—I
demandtoknow，"addedthebishop，fixinghispiercingeyessignificantlyupontheprisoner，"Idemandtoknowwhichofthesetwoisking;theonethisminiatureportrays，orwhomtheglassreflects？"
"Theking，monsieur，"sadlyrepliedtheyoungman，"ishewhoisonthethrone，whoisnotinprison;andwho，ontheotherhand，cancauseotherstobeentombedthere。？Royaltymeanspower;
andyoubeholdhowpowerlessIam。"
"Monseigneur，"
answeredAramis，witharespecthehadnotyetmanifested，"theking，markme，will，ifyoudesireit，betheonethat，quittinghisdungeon，shallmaintainhimselfuponthethrone，onwhichhisfriendswillplacehim。"
"Temptmenot，monsieur，"brokeintheprisonerbitterly。
"Benotweak，monseigneur，"persistedAramis;"Ihavebroughtyoualltheproofsofyourbirth;consultthem;satisfyyourselfthatyouareaking'sson;
itisforustoact。"
"No，no;itisimpossible。"
"Unless，indeed，"resumedthebishopironically，"itbethedestinyofyourrace，thatthebrothersexcludedfromthethroneshouldbealwaysprincesvoidofcourageandhonesty，aswasyouruncle，M。Gastond'Orl閍ns，whotentimesconspiredagainsthisbrotherLouisXIII。"
"What！"
criedtheprince，astonished;"myuncleGaston'conspiredagainsthisbrother';conspiredtodethronehim？"
"Exactly，monseigneur;fornootherreason。？I
tellyouthetruth。"
"Andhehadfriends—devotedfriends？"
"AsmuchsoasIamtoyou。"
"And，afterall，whatdidhedo？—Failed！"
"Hefailed，Iadmit;butalwaysthroughhisownfault;and，forthesakeofpurchasing—
nothislife—forthelifeoftheking'sbrotherissacredandinviolable—
buthisliberty，hesacrificedthelivesofallhisfriends，oneafteranother。？Andso，atthisday，heisaveryblotonhistory，thedetestationofahundrednoblefamiliesinthiskingdom。"
"I
understand，monsieur;eitherbyweaknessortreachery，myuncleslewhisfriends。"
"Byweakness;which，inprinces，isalwaystreachery。"
"Andcannotamanfail，then，fromincapacityandignorance？？DoyoureallybelieveitpossiblethatapoorcaptivesuchasI，broughtup，notonlyatadistancefromthecourt，butevenfromtheworld—doyoubelieveitpossiblethatsuchaonecouldassistthoseofhisfriendswhoshouldattempttoservehim？"？AndasAramiswasabouttoreply，theyoungmansuddenlycriedout，withaviolencewhichbetrayedthetemperofhisblood，"Wearespeakingoffriends;buthowcanIhaveanyfriends—I，whomnooneknows;andhaveneitherliberty，money，norinfluence，togainany？"
"IfancyI
hadthehonortooffermyselftoyourroyalhighness。"
"Oh，donotstylemeso，monsieur;'tiseithertreacheryorcruelty。？Bidmenotthinkofaughtbeyondtheseprison—walls，whichsogrimlyconfineme;letmeagainlove，or，atleast，submittomyslaveryandmyobscurity。"
"Monseigneur，monseigneur;ifyouagainutterthesedesperatewords—if，afterhavingreceivedproofofyourhighbirth，youstillremainpoor—spiritedinbodyandsoul，Iwillcomplywithyourdesire，Iwilldepart，andrenounceforevertheserviceofamaster，towhomsoeagerlyIcametodevotemyassistanceandmylife！"
"Monsieur，"
criedtheprince，"woulditnothavebeenbetterforyoutohavereflected，beforetellingmeallthatyouhavedone，thatyouhavebrokenmyheartforever？"
"AndsoI
desiretodo，monseigneur。"
"Totalktomeaboutpower，grandeur，eye，andtoprateofthrones！？Isaprisonthefitplace？？Youwishtomakemebelieveinsplendor，andwearelyinglostinnight;youboastofglory，andwearesmotheringourwordsinthecurtainsofthismiserablebed;yougivemeglimpsesofpowerabsolutewhilstIhearthefootstepsoftheevery—watchfuljailerinthecorridor—thatstepwhich，afterall，makesyoutremblemorethanitdoesme。？Torendermesomewhatlessincredulous，freemefromtheBastile;letmebreathethefreshair;givememyspursandtrustysword，thenweshallbegintounderstandeachother。"
"Itispreciselymyintentiontogiveyouallthis，monseigneur，andmore;only，doyoudesireit？"
"Awordmore，"saidtheprince。？"I
knowthereareguardsineverygallery，boltstoeverydoor，cannonandsoldieryateverybarrier。？Howwillyouovercomethesentries—spiketheguns？？Howwillyoubreakthroughtheboltsandbars？"
"Monseigneur，—howdidyougetthenotewhichannouncedmyarrivaltoyou？"
"Youcanbribeajailerforsuchathingasanote。"
"Ifwecancorruptoneturnkey，wecancorruptten。"
"Well;I
admitthatitmaybepossibletoreleaseapoorcaptivefromtheBastile;
possiblesotoconcealhimthattheking'speopleshallnotagainensnarehim;
possible，insomeunknownretreat，tosustaintheunhappywretchinsomesuitablemanner。"
"Monseigneur！"
saidAramis，smiling。
"Iadmitthat，whoeverwoulddothismuchforme，wouldseemmorethanmortalinmyeyes;butasyoutellmeIamaprince，brotheroftheking，howcanyourestoremetherankandpowerwhichmymotherandmybrotherhavedeprivedmeof？？Andas，toeffectthis，Imustpassalifeofwarandhatred，howcanyoucausemetoprevailinthosecombats—
rendermeinvulnerablebymyenemies？？Ah！monsieur，reflectonallthis;placeme，to—morrow，insomedarkcavernatamountain'sbase;yieldmethedelightofhearinginfreedomsoundsoftheriver，plainandvalley，ofbeholdinginfreedomthesunoftheblueheavens，orthestormysky，anditisenough。？Promisemenomorethanthis，for，indeed，moreyoucannotgive，anditwouldbeacrimetodeceiveme，sinceyoucallyourselfmyfriend。"
Aramiswaitedinsilence。？"Monseigneur，"heresumed，afteramoment'sreflection，"Iadmirethefirm，soundsensewhichdictatesyourwords;Iamhappytohavediscoveredmymonarch'smind。"
"Again，again！oh，God！formercy'ssake，"criedtheprince，pressinghisicyhandsuponhisclammybrow，"donotplaywithme！？Ihavenoneedtobeakingtobethehappiestofmen。"
"ButI，monseigneur，wishyoutobeakingforthegoodofhumanity。"
"Ah！"
saidtheprince，withfreshdistrustinspiredbytheword;"ah！withwhat，then，hashumanitytoreproachmybrother？"
"Iforgottosay，monseigneur，thatifyouwouldallowmetoguideyou，andifyouconsenttobecomethemostpowerfulmonarchinChristendom，youwillhavepromotedtheinterestsofallthefriendswhomIdevotetothesuccessofyourcause，andthesefriendsarenumerous。"
"Numerous？"
"Lessnumerousthanpowerful，monseigneur。"
"Explainyourself。"
"Itisimpossible;Iwillexplain，IswearbeforeHeaven，onthatdaythatIseeyousittingonthethroneofFrance。"
"Butmybrother？"
"Youshalldecreehisfate。？Doyoupityhim？"