A moment afterwards, a fair, soft-looking man, dressed in a black velvet pourpoint, (whom De Blenau discovered to be the Governor,) approached the carriage with an official paper in his hand, and lighted by one of the attendant's torches, read as follows, with that sort of hurried drawl which showed it to be a matter of form:-- "Monsieur le Comte de Thiery," said he, "you are commanded by the King to deliver into my hands the body of Claude Count de Blenau, to hold and keep in strict imprisonment, until such time as his Majesty's will be known in his regard, or till he be acquitted of the crimes with which he is charged, by a competent tribunal; and I now require you to do the same." This being gone through, De Thiery descended from the carriage, followed by the Count de Blenau, whom the Governor instantly addressed with a profound bow and servile smile. "Monsieur de Blenau," said he, "you are welcome to the Bastille; and any thing I can do for your accommodation, consistent with my duty, you shall command." "I hope you will let it be so, Sir Governor," said old De Thiery; "for Monsieur de Blenau is my particular friend, and without doubt he will be liberated in a few days. Now, Monsieur de Blenau," continued he, "I must leave you for the present, but hope soon to see you in another place. You will, no doubt, find several of your friends here; for we all take it in turn: and indeed, now-a-days, it would be almost accounted a piece of ignorance not to have been in the Bastille once in one's life. So, farewell!" And he embraced him warmly, whispering as he did so, "Make a friend of the Governor--gold will do it!" De Blenau looked after the good old soldier with feelings of regret, as he got into his _belle voiture_ and drove through the archway. Immediately after, the drawbridge rose, and the gates closed with a clang, sounding on De Blenau's ears as if they shut out from him all that was friendly in the world; and overpowered by a feeling of melancholy desolation, he remained with his eyes fixed in the direction De Thiery had taken, till he was roused by the Governor laying his hand upon his arm. "Monsieur de Blenau," said he, "will you do me the favour of following me, and I will have the honour of showing you your apartment."