The young fellow has by no means been unhappy there; the best lodging the Bastile affords has been his.
There is a chance for you." "Nay, nay," said Aramis, coldly; "you will never make me believe there are any good rooms in the Bastile; and, as for your carpets, they exist only in your imagination.

I should find nothing but spiders, rats, and perhaps toads, too." "Toads ?" cried Baisemeaux.
"Yes, in the dungeons." "Ah! I don't say there are not toads in the dungeons," replied Baisemeaux.

"But--will you be convinced by your own eyes ?" he continued, with a sudden impulse.
"No, certainly not." "Not even to satisfy yourself of the resemblance which you deny, as you do the carpets ?" "Some spectral-looking person, a mere shadow; an unhappy, dying man." "Nothing of the kind--as brisk and vigorous a young fellow as ever lived." "Melancholy and ill-tempered, then ?" "Not at all; very gay and lively." "Nonsense; you are joking." "Will you follow me ?" said Baisemeaux.
"What for ?" "To go the round of the Bastile." "Why ?" "You will then see for yourself--see with your own eyes." "But the regulations ?" "Never mind them.

To-day my major has leave of absence; the lieutenant is visiting the post on the bastions; we are sole masters of the situation." "No, no, my dear governor; why, the very idea of the sound of the bolts makes me shudder.

You will only have to forget me in second or fourth Bertaudiere, and then--" "You are refusing an opportunity that may never present itself again.