"Yes. The general--I mean the Franciscan--was sent to me; and, for the purpose of conforming with the requisitions of the statutes of the order, and of entitling me to the pension, I was reputed to be in a position to render certain services. You are aware that that is the rule?" "No, I did not know it," said Aramis. Madame de Chevreuse paused to look at Aramis, but it was perfectly dark. "Well, such is the rule, however," she resumed. "I ought, therefore, to seem to possess a power of usefulness of some kind or other. I proposed to travel for the order, and I was placed on the list of affiliated travelers. You understand it was a formality, by means of which I received my pension, which was very convenient for me." "Good heavens! duchesse, what you tell me is like a dagger-thrust into me. _You_ obliged to receive a pension from the Jesuits?" "No, chevalier; from Spain." "Except as a conscientious scruple, duchesse, you will admit that it is pretty nearly the same thing." "No, not at all." "But, surely, of your magnificent fortune there must remain--" "Dampierre is all that remains." "And that is handsome enough." "Yes; but Dampierre is burdened, mortgaged, and almost fallen to ruin, like its owner." "And can the queen-mother know and see all that, without shedding a tear?" said Aramis, with a penetrating look, which encountered nothing but the darkness. "Yes, she has forgotten everything." "You have, I believe, attempted to get restored to favor?" "Yes; but, most singularly, the young king inherits the antipathy that his dear father had for me. You will, too, tell me that I am indeed a woman to be hated, and that I am no longer one who can be loved." "Dear duchesse, pray arrive soon at the circumstance which brought you here; for I think we can be of service to each other." "Such has been my own thought. I came to Fontainebleau with a double object in view. In the first place, I was summoned there by the Franciscan whom you knew. By-the-by, how did you know him?--for I have told you my story, and have not yet heard yours." "I knew him in a very natural way, duchesse. I studied theology with him at Parma. We became fast friends; and it happened, from time to time, that business, or travels, or war, separated us from each other." "You were, of course, aware that he was the general of the Jesuits?" "I suspected it." "But by what extraordinary chance did it happen that you were at the hotel where the affiliated travelers had met together?" "Oh!" said Aramis, in a calm voice, "it was the merest chance in the world. I was going to Fontainebleau to see M. Fouquet, for the purpose of obtaining an audience of the king. I was passing by, unknown; I saw the poor dying monk in the road, and recognized him immediately. You know the rest--he died in my arms." "Yes; but bequeathing to you so vast a power, that you issue your sovereign orders and directions like a monarch." "He certainly did leave me a few commissions to settle."