"Suffice it to know that I learned you had returned from Vannes, and I sent to one of our friends, M. le Comte de la Fere, who is discretion itself, in order to ascertain it, but he answered that he was not aware of your address."
"So like Athos," thought the bishop; "that which is actually good never alters."
"Well, then, you know that I cannot venture to show myself here, and that the queen-mother has always some grievance or other against me."
"Yes, indeed, and I am surprised at it."
"Oh! there are various reasons for it. But, to continue, being obliged to conceal myself, I was fortunate enough to meet with M. d'Artagnan, who was formerly one of your old friends, I believe?"
"A friend of mine still, duchesse."
"He gave me some information, and sent me to M. Baisemeaux, the governor of the Bastille."
Aramis was somewhat agitated at this remark, and a light flashed from his eyes in the darkness of the room, which he could not conceal from his keen-sighted friend. "M. de Baisemeaux!" he said; "why did D'Artagnan send you to M. de Baisemeaux?"
"I cannot tell you."
"What can this possibly mean?" said the bishop, summoning all the resources of his mind to his aid, in order to carry on the combat in a befitting manner.