"What is the matter now ?" he asked; "and whom have you brought me there ?" The man with the lantern opened the carriage-door, and said two or three words to the one who acted as driver, who immediately got down from his seat, took up a short musket which he kept under his feet, and placed its muzzle on his prisoner's chest.
"And fire at once if he speaks!" added aloud the man who alighted from the carriage.
"Very good," replied his companion, without another remark.
With this recommendation, the person who had accompanied the king in the carriage ascended the flight of steps, at the top of which the governor was awaiting him.

"Monsieur d'Herblay!" said the latter.
"Hush!" said Aramis.

"Let us go into your room." "Good heavens! what brings you here at this hour ?" "A mistake, my dear Monsieur de Baisemeaux," Aramis replied, quietly.
"It appears that you were quite right the other day." "What about ?" inquired the governor.
"About the order of release, my dear friend." "Tell me what you mean, monsieur--no, monseigneur," said the governor, almost suffocated by surprise and terror.
"It is a very simple affair: you remember, dear M.de Baisemeaux, that an order of release was sent to you." "Yes, for Marchiali." "Very good! we both thought that it was for Marchiali ?" "Certainly; you will recollect, however, that I would not credit it, but that you compelled me to believe it." "Oh! Baisemeaux, my good fellow, what a word to make use of!--strongly recommended, that was all." "Strongly recommended, yes; strongly recommended to give him up to you; and that you carried him off with you in your carriage." "Well, my dear Monsieur de Baisemeaux, it was a mistake; it was discovered at the ministry, so that I now bring you an order from the king to set at liberty Seldon,--that poor Seldon fellow, you know." "Seldon! are you sure this time ?" "Well, read it yourself," added Aramis, handing him the order.
"Why," said Baisemeaux, "this order is the very same that has already passed through my hands." "Indeed ?" "It is the very one I assured you I saw the other evening.

_Parbleu!_ I recognize it by the blot of ink." "I do not know whether it is that; but all I know is, that I bring it for you." "But then, what about the other ?" "What other ?" "Marchiali." "I have got him here with me." "But that is not enough for me.

I require a new order to take him back again." "Don't talk such nonsense, my dear Baisemeaux; you talk like a child! Where is the order you received respecting Marchiali ?" Baisemeaux ran to his iron chest and took it out.