"Well, Monsieur le Gouverneur," said he, assuming a cheerful air, "I suppose, then, that I shall remain with you a day or two longer; nor should I, indeed, care so much for the confinement, where I am so well treated, if I had some one to wait upon me whom I have been accustomed to." "I do not know how that could be arranged," replied the Governor thoughtfully; "I would do any thing to serve you, Monsieur de Blenau, consistent with my duty, but this is quite contrary to my orders; and if I were to allow you one of my own servants, it would put me completely in his power." "Oh, that would not do at all," said De Blenau; "but are there not some of the inferior prisoners--" The Governor's brow darkened.--"Of course," continued the Count, "you would have to pay them for their trouble--and I, of course, would reimburse you. If you think that three hundred crowns would induce one of them to wait on me for the time I am here, I would willingly pay the money into your hands, and you could make all the necessary arrangements for the purpose." The countenance of the Governor gradually cleared up as De Blenau spoke, like a sheltered lake that, after having been agitated for a moment by some unwonted breeze, soon relapses into its calm tranquillity, when that which disturbed it has passed away. The idea of appropriating, with such unquestioned facility, the greater part of three hundred crowns, was the sun which thus speedily dispersed the clouds upon his brow: and he mused for a moment, calculating shrewdly the means of attaining his object. "The worst of it is," said he at length, "that we have no inferior prisoners. They are all prisoners of State in the Bastille---- But stay," he added, a felicitous idea crossing his mind, "I remember there was a man brought here this morning by Chavigni's people, and they told me to give him all possible liberty, and employ him in the prison if I could." "That will just do then," said De Blenau, inwardly praying that it might be the honest Woodman of Mantes. "He can visit me here occasionally during the day, to see if I have need of him, and the guard at the door can take good care that I do not follow him out, which is all that your duty demands." "Of course, of course," replied the Governor; "it is your safe custody alone which I have to look to: and farther, I am ordered to give you every convenience and attention, which warrants me in allowing you an attendant at least. But here comes your dinner, Sir."