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〃Do you think so？〃 said Aramis； smiling； 〃it is possible。 You have no idea； my dear fellow； how one acquires bad habits in these cursed convents； or what evil ways all these men of the church have； with whom I am obliged to live。 But will you not go up？〃
〃Pass on before me； I beg of you。〃
〃As the late cardinal used to say to the late king； ‘only to show you the way； sire。'〃 And Aramis ascended the ladder quickly and reached the window in an instant。
D'Artagnan followed； but less nimbly； showing plainly that this mode of ascent was not one to which he was accustomed。
〃I beg your pardon；〃 said Aramis； noticing his awkwardness； 〃if I had known that I was to have the honor of your visit I should have procured the gardener's ladder； but for me alone this is good enough。〃
〃Sir；〃 said Planchet when he saw D'Artagnan on the summit of the ladder； 〃this way is easy for Monsieur Aramis and even for you； in case of necessity I might also climb up； but my two horses cannot mount the ladder。〃
〃Take them to yonder shed； my friend；〃 said Aramis； pointing to a low building on the plain； 〃there you will find hay and straw for them； then e back here and clap your hands three times； and we will give you wine and food。 Marry； forsooth； people don't die of hunger here。'
And Aramis； drawing in the ladder； closed the window。 D'Artagnan then looked around attentively。
Never was there an apartment at the same time more warlike and more elegant。 At each corner were arranged trophies； presenting to view swords of all sorts； and on the walls hung four great pictures representing in their ordinary military costume the Cardinal de Lorraine； the Cardinal de Richelieu； the Cardinal de la Valette； and the Archbishop of Bordeaux。 Exteriorly； nothing in the room showed that it was the habitation of an abbe。 The hangings were of damask； the carpets from Alencon； and the bed； especially； had more the look of a fine lady's couch； with its trimmings of fine lace and its embroidered counterpane； than that of a man who had made a vow that he would endeavor to gain Heaven by fasting and mortification。
〃You are examining my den；〃 said Aramis。 〃Ah； my dear fellow； excuse me； I am lodged like a Chartreux。 But what are you looking for？〃
〃I am looking for the person who let down the ladder。 I see no one and yet the ladder didn't e down of itself。〃
〃No； it is Bazin。〃
〃Ah！ ah！〃 said D'Artagnan。
〃But；〃 continued Aramis； 〃Bazin is a well trained servant； and seeing that I was not alone he discreetly retired。 Sit down； my dear friend； and let us talk。〃 And Aramis pushed forward a large easy…chair； in which D'Artagnan stretched himself out。
〃In the first place； you will sup with me； will you not？〃 asked Aramis。
〃Yes； if you really wish it；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃and even with great pleasure； I confess； the journey has given me a devil of an appetite。〃
〃Ah； my poor friend！〃 said Aramis； 〃you will find meagre fare； you were not expected。〃
〃Am I then threatened with the omelet of Crevecoeur？〃
〃Oh； let us hope；〃 said Aramis； 〃that with the help of God and of Bazin we shall find something better than that in the larder of the worthy Jesuit fathers。 Bazin； my friend； e here。〃
The door opened and Bazin entered； on perceiving the musketeer he uttered an exclamation that was almost a cry of despair。
〃My dear Bazin；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃I am delighted to see with what wonderful posure you can tell a lie even in church！〃
〃Sir；〃 replied Bazin； 〃I have been taught by the good Jesuit fathers that it is permitted to tell a falsehood when it is told in a good cause。〃
〃So far well；〃 said Aramis； 〃we are dying of hunger。 Serve us up the best supper you can； and especially give us some good wine。〃
Bazin bowed low； sighed； and left the room。
〃Now we are alone； dear Aramis；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃tell me how the devil you managed to alight upon the back of Planchet's horse。〃
〃I'faith！〃 answered Aramis； 〃as you see； from Heaven。〃
〃From Heaven；〃 replied D'Artagnan； shaking his head； 〃you have no more the appearance of ing from thence than you have of going there。〃
〃My friend；〃 said Aramis； with a look of imbecility on his face which D'Artagnan had never observed whilst he was in the musketeers； 〃if I did not e from Heaven； at least I was leaving Paradise； which is almost the same。〃
〃Here； then； is a puzzle for the learned；〃 observed D'Artagnan； 〃until now they have never been able to agree as to the situation of Paradise； some place it on Mount Ararat； others between the rivers Tigris and Euphrates； it seems that they have been looking very far away for it； while it was actually very near。 Paradise is at Noisy le Sec； upon the site of the archbishop's chateau。 People do not go out from it by the door； but by the window； one doesn't descend here by the marble steps of a peristyle； but by the branches of a lime…tree； and the angel with a flaming sword who guards this elysium seems to have changed his celestial name of Gabriel into that of the more terrestrial one of the Prince de Marsillac。〃
Aramis burst into a fit of laughter。
〃You were always a merry panion； my dear D'Artagnan；〃 he said； 〃and your witty Gascon fancy has not deserted you。 Yes； there is something in what you say； nevertheless； do not believe that it is Madame de Longueville with whom I am in love。〃
〃A plague on't！ I shall not do so。 After having been so long in love with Madame de Chevreuse； you would hardly lay your heart at the feet of her mortal enemy！〃
〃Yes；〃 replied Aramis； with an absent air； 〃yes； that poor duchess！ I once loved her much； and to do her justice； she was very useful to us。 Eventually she was obliged to leave France。 He was a relentless enemy； that damned cardinal；〃 continued Aramis； glancing at the portrait of the old minister。 〃He had even given orders to arrest her and would have cut off her head had she not escaped with her waiting…maid poor Kitty！ I have heard that she met with a strange adventure in I don't know what village； with I don't know what cure； of whom she asked hospitality and who； having but one chamber； and taking her for a cavalier； offered to share it with her。 For she had a wonderful way of dressing as a man； that dear Marie； I know only one other woman who can do it as well。 So they made this song about her： ‘Laboissiere； dis moi。' You know it； don't you？〃
〃No； sing it； please。〃
Aramis immediately plied； and sang the song in a very lively manner。
〃Bravo！〃 cried D'Artagnan； 〃you sing charmingly； dear Aramis。 I do not perceive that singing masses has spoiled your voice。〃
〃My dear D'Artagnan；〃 replied Aramis； 〃you understand； when I was a musketeer I mounted guard as seldom as I could； now when I am an abbe I say as few masses as I can。 But to return to our duchess。〃
〃Which the Duchess de Chevreuse or the Duchess de Longueville？〃
〃Have I not already told you that there is nothing between me and the Duchess de Longueville？ Little flirtations； perhaps； and that's all。 No； I spoke of the Duchess de Chevreuse； did you see her after her return from Brussels； after the king's death？〃
〃Yes； she is still beautiful。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Aramis； 〃I saw her also at that time。 I gave her good advice； by which she did not profit。 I ventured to tell her that Mazarin was the lover of Anne of Austria。 She wouldn't believe me； saying that she knew Anne of Austria； who was too proud to love such a worthless coxb。 After that she plunged into the cabal headed by the Duke of Beaufort； and the ‘coxb' arrested De Beaufort and banished Madame de Chevreuse。〃
〃You know；〃 resumed D'Artagnan； 〃that she has had leave to return to France？〃
〃Yes she is e back and is going to mit some fresh folly or another。〃
〃Oh； but this time perhaps she will follow your advice。〃
〃Oh； this time；〃 returned Aramis； 〃I haven't seen her； she is much changed。〃
〃In that respect unlike you； my dear Aramis； for you are still the same； you have still your beautiful dark hair； still your elegant figure； still your feminine hands； which are admirably suited to a prelate。〃
〃Yes；〃 replied Aramis； 〃I am extremely careful of my appearance。 Do you know that I am growing old？ I am nearly thirty…seven。〃
〃Mind； Aramis〃 D'Artagnan smiled as he spoke 〃since we are together again； let us agree on one point： what age shall we be in future？〃
〃How？〃
〃Formerly I was your junior by two or three years； and if I am not mistaken I am turned forty years old。〃
〃Indeed！ Then 'tis I who am mistaken； for you have always been a good chronologist。 By your reckoning I must be forty…three at least。 The devil I am！ Don't let it out at the Hotel Rambouillet； it would ruin me；〃 replied the abbe。
〃Don't be afraid；〃 said D'Artagnan。 〃I never go there。〃
〃Why； what in the world；〃 cried Aramis； 〃is that animal Bazin doing？ Bazin！ Hurry up there； you rascal； we are mad with hunger and thirst！〃
Bazin entered at that moment carrying a bottle in each hand。
〃At last；〃 said Aramis； 〃we are ready； are we？
〃Yes； monsieur； quite ready；〃 said Bazin； 〃but it took me some time to bring up all the 〃
〃Because you always think you have on your should