"The fellow had indeed a good heart," he thought to himself, "which even the miseries he is witness of in this living hell are unable to suppress. One would think that De Chevagny was his dearest friend, so overjoyed is he." And still, as he reflected thus, Bluet's grimaces and becks and nods continued. "Réné Xavier Ru de Chevagny, Marquis de Chevagny," read out the King's Lieutenant from a paper in his hand, "the Viscomte d'Argenson, Judge and Examiner of his Majesty's fortresses, desires your presence." "I--I have waited the summons long," the marquis said, with quiet dignity; "I am ready to obey it." And he turned round to touch Bertie's hand in a temporary farewell, when again the voice of the King's Lieutenant was heard reading from the paper: "Elphinston--baptismal name uncertain--captain of the Regiment of Picardy, formerly of the Regiment of Scots Dutch----" "What!" exclaimed Elphinston, dazed by being summoned at last so unexpectedly, and also at the last description--"what!" --"the Vicomte d'Argenson, Judge and Examiner of his Majesty's fortresses, desires your presence." "I, too, am ready," he replied in a low voice. "_Avancez!_" said the Lieutenant, and at the word the party left the _calotte_ and descended the massive stairs, the officer with two turnkeys leading the way, while Bluet and another followed. And as they went to the Hall of Judgment, Bertie whispered to the marquis: "I begin to understand. I know now why I have been here so long. It was another Elphinston, not I, who served in the Scots Dutch--the Elphinston who eloped with the daughter of the Duc de Baufremont!" CHAPTER XXIX. FREE. When the stairs had been descended, at the foot of which were several soldiers who, as ever, removed their hats and placed them before their faces so as not to observe the prisoners, they passed through a little door into a great court and, traversing this, entered what was known and served as the arsenal or armoury. There Bertie observed a number of gorgeously dressed footmen and coachmen seated about, whom he supposed to belong to the judges, as well as a number of exempts and several messengers of the Bastille, known to all Paris by the badge they wore--a brass plate, having on it an engraved club full of points and spikes, with round it the motto "_Monstrorum Terror_"--most of whom, perhaps from long habit, regarded the party very indifferently. Leaving this place behind, they traversed another court, and then, after the King's Lieutenant had struck three times on an iron-studded door, they were admitted to a large, stately hall well warmed and lighted. It was the hall known as the _Salle de Justice_.