Part 20 (1/2)
”Thank you,back; ”I am paid”
The duke went from one surprise to another He held out his hand Grirand manner of Athos had left its mark on Grimaud
”What shall we do? and when? and how proceed?”
”It is now eleven,” answered Griame at tennis with La Ramee and let him send two or three balls over the rahness will approach the walls and call out to a ain”
”I understand,” said the duke
Gri away
”Ah!” cried the duke, ”will you not accept any money from me?”
”I wish my lord would make me one promise”
”What! speak!”
”'Tis this: e escape together, that I shall go everywhere and be always first; for if ht, there's every chance of his being brought back to prison, whereas if I a”
”True, on est”
”Now,” resuhness will continue to detest me”
”I'll try,” said the duke
At this moment La Ramee, after the interviee have described with the cardinal, entered the room The duke had thrown himself, as he ont to do in moments of dullness and vexation, on his bed La Ra the sauardian he s to Griood You have been spoken of in a pro quarter and you will soon, I hope, have news that will be agreeable to you”
Grimaud saluted in his politest manner and withdrew, as was his custom on the entrance of his superior
”Well, h, ”you still set yourself against this poor fellow?”
”So! 'tis you, La Raain I threw htn't break le Grihtly allusion to the silence of his subordinate, ”if he has said anything disagreeable to your highness”
”Pardieu! you are right--a mute from the East! I swear it was tier to see you again”
”Monseigneur is too good,” said La Ramee, flattered by the compliment
”Yes,” continued the duke, ”really, I feel bored today beyond the power of description”
”Then let us have a match in the tennis court,” exclaimed La Ramee
”If you wish it”
”I am at your service, my lord”
”I protest,fellow and that I would stay forever at Vincennes to have the pleasure of your society”
”My lord,” replied La Ramee, ”I think if it depended on the cardinal your wishes would be fulfilled”
”What do you mean? Have you seen him lately?”
”He sent for me to-day”
”Really! to speak to you about ine he would speak to htmare”
The duke smiled with bitterness
”Ah, La Ramee! if you would but accept my offers! I would make your fortune”
”How? you would no sooner have left prison than your goods would be confiscated”
”I shall no sooner be out of prison than I shall be master of Paris”
”Pshaw! pshaw! I cannot hear such things said as that; this is a fine conversation with an officer of the king! I see, ed to fetch a second Grimaud!”
”Very well, let us say noabout me? La Ramee, some day when he sends for you, you o in your stead; I will strangle him, and upon my honor, if that is neur, I see well that IAnd what did the cuistre [pettifogger] say about neur, because it rhymes with ministre [minister] What did he say to me? He told me to watch you”
”And why so? atch er had predicted that you would escape”
”Ah! an astrologer predicted that?” said the duke, starting in spite of hiicians can only is to torment honest people”
”And what did you reply to his er in question made almanacs I would advise him not to buy one”
”Why not?”
”Because before you could escape you would have to be turned into a bird”