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The Man in the Iron Mask
Alexandre Dumas
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The Man in the Iron Mask
Alexandre Dumas
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The Man in the Iron Mask is the exciting conclusion to the Three Musketeers' adventures. D'Artangan and the Musketeers must attempt tp rescue King Louis XIV's identical twin brother from prison to put him on the throne and thereby save Fouquet from being unfairly destroyed by King Louis.
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Thema
LiteratureThema
ClassicsThe Prisoner
Since Aramisâs singular transformation into a confessor of the order, Baisemeaux was no longer the same man. Up to that period, the place which Aramis had held in the worthy governorâs estimation was that of a prelate whom he respected and a friend to whom he owed a debt of gratitude; but now he felt himself an inferior, and that Aramis was his master. He himself lighted a lantern, summoned a turnkey, and said, returning to Aramis, âI am at your orders, monseigneur.â Aramis merely nodded his head, as much as to say, âVery goodâ; and signed to him with his hand to lead the way. Baisemeaux advanced, and Aramis followed him. It was a calm and lovely starlit night; the steps of three men resounded on the flags of the terraces, and the clinking of the keys hanging from the jailerâs girdle made itself heard up to the stories of the towers, as if to remind the prisoners that the liberty of earth was a luxury beyond their reach. It might have been said that the alteration effected in Baisemeaux extended even to the prisoners. The turnkey, the same who, on Aramisâs first arrival had shown himself so inquisitive and curious, was now not only silent, but impassible. He held his head down, and seemed afraid to keep his ears open. In this wise they reached the basement of the Bertaudiere, the two first stories of which were mounted silently and somewhat slowly; for Baisemeaux, though far from disobeying, was far from exhibiting any eagerness to obey. On arriving at the door, Baisemeaux showed a disposition to enter the prisonerâs chamber; but Aramis, stopping him on the threshold, said, âThe rules do not allow the governor to hear the prisonerâs confession.â
Baisemeaux bowed, and made way for Aramis, who took the lantern and entered; and then signed to them to close the door behind him. For an instant he remained standing, listening whether Baisemeaux and the turnkey had retired; but as soon as he was assured by the sound of their descending footsteps that they had left the tower, he put the lantern on the table and gazed around. On a bed of green serge, similar in all respect to the other beds in the Bastile, save that it was newer, and under curtains halfâdrawn, reposed a young man, to whom we have already once before introduced Aramis. According to custom, the prisoner was without a light. At the hour of curfew, he was bound to extinguish his lamp, and we perceive how much he was favored, in being allowed to keep it burning even till then. Near the bed a large leathern armchair, with twisted legs, sustained his clothes. A little table â without pens, books, paper, or ink â stood neglected in sadness near the window; while several plates, still unemptied, showed that the prisoner had scarcely touched his evening meal. Aramis saw that the young man was stretched upon his bed, his face half concealed by his arms. The arrival of a visitor did not caused any change of position; either he was waiting in expectation, or was asleep. Aramis lighted the candle from the lantern, pushed back the armchair, and approached the bed with an evident mixture of interest and respect. The young man raised his head. âWhat is it?â said he.
âYou desired a confessor?â replied Aramis.
âYes.â
âBecause you were ill?â
âYes.â
âVery ill?â
The young man gave Aramis a piercing glance, and answered, âI thank you.â After a momentâs silence, âI have seen you before,â he continued. Aramis bowed.
Doubtless the scrutiny the prisoner had just made of the cold, crafty, and imperious character stamped upon the features of the bishop of Vannes was little reassuring to one in his situation, for he added, âI am better.â
âAnd so?â said Aramis.
âWhy, then â being better, I have no longer the same need of a confessor, I think.â
âNot even of the hairâcloth, which the note you found in your bread informed you of?â
The young man started; but before he had either assented or denied, Aramis continued, âNot even of the ecclesiastic from whom you were to hear an important revelation?â
âIf it be so,â said the young man, sinking again on his pillow, âit is different; I am listening.â
Aramis then looked at him more closely, and was struck with the easy majesty of his mien, one which can never be acquired unless Heaven has implanted it in the blood or heart. âSit down, monsieur,â said the prisoner.
Aramis bowed and obeyed. âHow does the Bastile agree with you?â asked the bishop.
âVery well.â
âYou do not suffer?â
âNo.â
âYou have nothing to regret?â
âNothing.â
âNot even your liberty?â
âWhat do you call liberty, monsieur?â asked the prisoner, with the tone of a man who is preparing for a struggle.
âI call liberty, the flowers, the air, light, the stars, the happiness of going whithersoever the sinewy limbs of oneâandâtwenty chance to wish to carry you.â
The young man smiled, whether in resignation or contempt, it was difficult to tell. âLook,â said he, âI have in that Japanese vase two roses gathered yesterday evening in the bud from the governorâs garden; this morning they have blown and spread their vermilion chalice beneath my gaze; with every opening petal they unfold the treasures of their perfumes, filling my chamber with a fragrance that embalms it. Look now on these two roses; even among roses these are beautiful, and the rose is the most beautiful of flowers. Why, then, do you bid me desire other flowers when I possess the loveliest of all?â
Aramis gazed at the young man in surprise.
âIf flowers constitute liberty,â sadly resumed the captive, âI am free, for I possess them.â
âBut the air!â cried Aramis; âair is so necessary to life!â
âWell, monsieur,â returned the prisoner; âdraw near to the window; it is open. Between high heaven and earth the wind whirls on its waftages of hail and lightning, exhales its torrid mist or breathes in gentle breezes. It caresses my face. When mounted on the back of this armchair, with my arm around the bars of the window to sustain myself, I fancy I am swimming the wide expanse before me.â The countenance of Aramis darkened as the young man continued: âLight I have! what is better than light? I have the sun, a friend who comes to visit me every day without the permission of the governor or the jailerâs company. He comes in at the window, and traces in my room a square the shape of the window, which lights up the hangings of my bed and floods the very floor. This luminous square increases from ten oâclock till midday, and decreases from one till three slowly, as if, having hastened to my presence, it sorrowed at bidding me farewell. When its last ray disappears I have enjoyed its presence for five hours. Is not that sufficient? I have been told that there are unhappy beings who dig in quarries, and laborers who toil in mines, who never behold it at all.â Aramis wiped the drops from his brow. âAs to the stars which are so delightful to view,â continued the young man, âthey all resemble each other save in size and brilliancy. I am a favored mortal, for if you had not lighted that candle you would have been able to see the beautiful stars which I was gazing at from my couch before your arrival, whose silvery rays were stealing through my brain.â
Aramis lowered his head; he felt himself overwhelmed with the bitter flow of that sinister philosophy which is the religion of the captive.
âSo much, then, for the flowers, the air, the daylight, and the stars,â tranquilly continued the young man; âthere remains but exercise. Do I not walk all day in the governorâs garden if it is fine â here if it rains? in the fresh air if it is warm; in perfect warmth, thanks to my winter stove, if it be cold? Ah! monsieur, do you fancy,â continued the prisoner, not without bitterness, âthat men have not done everything for me that a man can hope for or desire?â
âMen!â said Aramis; âbe it so; but it seems to me you are forgetting Heaven.â
âIndeed I have forgotten Heaven,â murmured the prisoner, with emotion; âbut why do you mention it? Of what use is it to talk to a prisoner of Heaven?â
Aramis looked steadily at this singular youth, who possessed the resignation of a martyr with the smile of an atheist. âIs not Heaven in everything?â he murmured in a reproachful tone.
âSay rather, at the end of everything,â answered the prisoner, firmly.
âBe it so,â said Aramis; âbut let us return to our startingâpoint.â
âI ask nothing better,â returned the young man.
âI am your confessor.â
âYes.â
âWell, then, you ought, as a penitent, to tell me the truth.â
âMy whole desire is to tell it you.â
âEvery prisoner has committed some crime for which he has been imprisoned. What crime, then, have you committed?â
âYou asked me the same question the first time you saw me,â returned the prisoner.
âAnd then, as now you evaded giving me an answer.â
âAnd what reason have you for thinking that I shall now reply to you?â
âBecause this time I am your confessor.â
âThen if you wish me to tell what crime I have committed, explain to me in what a crime consists. For as my conscience does not accuse me, I aver that I am not a criminal.â
âWe are often criminals in the sight of the great of the earth, not alone for having ourselves committed crimes, but because we know that crimes have been committed.â
The prisoner manifested the deepest attention.
âYes, I understand you,â he said, after a pause; âyes, you are right, monsieur; it is very possible that, in such a light, I am a criminal in the eyes of the great of the earth.â
âAh! then you know something,â said Aramis, who thought he had pierced not merely through a defect in the harness, but through the joints of it.
âNo, I am not aware of anything,â replied the young man; âbut sometimes I think â and I say to myselfââ
âWhat do you say to yourself?â
âThat if I were to think but a little more deeply I should either go mad or I should divine a great deal.â
âAnd then â and then?â said Aramis, impatiently.
âThen I leave off.â
âYou leave off?â
âYes; my head becomes confused and my ideas melancholy; I feel ennui overtaking me; I wishââ
âWhat?â
âI donât know; but I do not like to give myself up to longing for things which I do not possess, when I am so happy with what I have.â
âYou are afraid of death?â said Aramis, with a slight uneasiness.
âYes,â said the young man, smiling.
Aramis felt the chill of that smile, and shuddered. âOh, as you fear death, you know more about matters than you say,â he cried.
âAnd you,â returned the prisoner, âwho bade me to ask to see you; you, who, when I did ask to see you, came here promising a world of confidence; how is it that, nevertheless, it is you who are silent, leaving it for me to speak? Since, then, we both wear masks, either let us both retain them or put them aside together.â
Aramis felt the force and justice of the remark, saying to himself, âThis is no ordinary man; I must be cautious. â Are you ambitious?â said he suddenly to the prisoner, aloud, without preparing him for the alteration.
âWhat do you mean by ambitious?â replied the youth.
âAmbition,â replied Aramis, âis the feeling which prompts a man to desire more â much more â than he possesses.â
âI said that I was contented, monsieur; but, perhaps, I deceive myself. I am ignorant of the nature of ambition; but it is not impossible I may have some. Tell me your mind; that is all I ask.â
âAn ambitious man,â said Aramis, âis one who covets that which is beyond his station.â
âI covet nothing beyond my station,â said the young man, with an assurance of manner which for the second time made the bishop of Vannes tremble.
He was silent. But to look at the kindling eye, the knitted brow, and the reflective attitude of the captive, it was evident that he expected something more than silence, â a silence which Aramis now broke. âYou lied the first time I saw you,â said he.
âLied!â cried the young man, starting up on his couch, with such a tone in his voice, and such a lightning in his eyes, that Aramis recoiled, in spite of himself.
âI should say,â returned Aramis, bowing, âyou concealed from me what you knew of your infancy.â
âA manâs secrets are his own, monsieu...