with all
things thereto appertaining; and hath likewise caused to be repointed
and set in order the old sword, which had become broken and notched in
executing justice on Messire Louis de Luxembourg, as will more fully
appear."

The king interrupted: "That suffices. I allow the sum with great good
will. Those are expenses which I do not begrudge. I have never regretted
that money. Continue."

"For having made over a great cage..."

"Ah!" said the king, grasping the arms of his chair in both hands, "I
knew well that I came hither to this Bastille for some purpose. Hold,
Master Olivier; I desire to see that cage myself. You shall read me the
cost while I am examining it. Messieurs Flemings, come and see this;
'tis curious."

Then he rose, leaned on the arm of his interlocutor, made a sign to
the sort of mute who stood before the door to precede him, to the two
Flemings to follow him, and quitted the room.

The royal company was recruited, at the door of the retreat, by men of
arms, all loaded down with iron, and by slender pages bearing flambeaux.
It marched for some time through the interior of the gloomy donjon,
pierced with staircases and corridors even in the very thickness of the
walls. The captain of the Bastille marched at their head, and caused the
wickets to be opened before the bent and aged king, who coughed as he
walked.

At each wicket, all heads were obliged to stoop, except that of the old
man bent double with age. "Hum," said he between his gums, for he had
no longer any teeth, "we are already quite prepared for the door of the
sepulchre. For a low door, a bent passer."

At length, after having passed a final wicket, so loaded with locks that
a quarter of an hour was required to open it, they entered a vast and
lofty vaulted hall, in the centre of which they could distinguish by the
light of the torches, a huge cubic mass of masonry, iron, and wood. The
interior was hollow. It was one of those famous cages of prisoners of
state, which were called "the little daughters of the king." In its
walls there were two or three little windows so closely trellised with
stout iron bars; that the glass was not visible. The door was a large
flat slab of stone, as on tombs; the sort of door which serves for
entrance only. Only here, the occupant was alive.

The king began to walk slowly round the little edifice, examining it
carefully, while Master Olivier, who followed him, read aloud the note.

"For having