"Yes, indeed, and I am surprised at it."
"Oh! there are various reasons for it. But, to continue, being obliged to conceal myself, I was fortunate enough to meet with Monsieur d'Artagnan, who was formerly one of your old friends, I believe?"
"A friend of mine still, duchess."
"He gave me some information, and sent me to Monsieur Baisemeaux, the governor of the Bastile."
Aramis was somewhat agitated at this remark, and a light flashed from his eyes in the darkness of the room, which he could not conceal from his keen-sighted friend.
"Monsieur de Baisemeaux!" he said; "why did D'Artagnan send you to Monsieur de Baisemeaux?"
"I cannot tell you."
"What can this possibly mean?" said the bishop, summoning all the resources of his mind to his aid, in order to carry on the combat in a befitting manner.
"Monsieur de Baisemeaux is greatly indebted to you, D'Artagnan told me."
"True, he is so."
"And the address of a creditor is as easily ascertained as that of a debtor."
"Very true; and so Baisemeaux indicated to you —"
"St. Mande, where I forwarded a letter to you."
"Which I have in my hand, and which is most precious to me," said Aramis, "because I am indebted to it for the pleasure of seeing you here."
The duchess, satisfied at having successfully alluded to the various difficulties of so delicate an explanation, began to breathe freely again, which Aramis, however, could not succeed in doing.
"We had got as far as your visit to Monsieur Baisemeaux, I believe?"
"Nay," she said, laughing, "further than that."
"In that case, we must have been speaking about the grudge you have against the queen-mother."
"Further still," she returned — "further still; we were talking of the connection —"
"Which existed between you and the Franciscan," said Aramis, interrupting her eagerly; "well, I am listening to you very attentively."
"It is easily explained," returned the duchess. "You know that I am living at Brussels with Monsieur de Laicques?"
"I have heard so."
