Aramis seized hold of it, coolly tore it in four pieces, held them to the lamp, and burnt them.

"Good heavens! what are you doing ?" exclaimed Baisemeaux, in an extremity of terror.
"Look at your position quietly, my good governor," said Aramis, with imperturbable self-possession, "and you will see how very simple the whole affair is.

You no longer possess any order justifying Marchiali's release." "I am a lost man!" "Far from it, my good fellow, since I have brought Marchiali back to you, and all accordingly is just the same as if he had never left." "Ah!" said the governor, completely overcome by terror.
"Plain enough, you see; and you will go and shut him up immediately." "I should think so, indeed." "And you will hand over this Seldon to me, whose liberation is authorized by this order.

Do you understand ?" "I--I--" "You do understand, I see," said Aramis.

"Very good." Baisemeaux clapped his hands together.
"But why, at all events, after having taken Marchiali away from me, do you bring him back again ?" cried the unhappy governor, in a paroxysm of terror, and completely dumbfounded.
"For a friend such as you are," said Aramis--"for so devoted a servant, I have no secrets;" and he put his mouth close to Baisemeaux's ear, as he said, in a low tone of voice, "you know the resemblance between that unfortunate fellow, and--" "And the king ?--yes!" "Very good; the first use that Marchiali made of his liberty was to persist--Can you guess what ?" "How is it likely I should guess ?" "To persist in saying that he was king of France; to dress himself up in clothes like those of the king; and then pretend to assume that he was the king himself." "Gracious heavens!" "That is the reason why I have brought him back again, my dear friend.
He is mad and lets every one see how mad he is." "What is to be done, then ?" "That is very simple; let no one hold any communication with him.