Was Aramis really listening or not? No one could have told; his downcast eyes showed the attentive man; but the restless hand betrayed the man absorbed in thought—Aramis was meditating.
“I was saying,” continued Baisemeaux, “that a good-sized fowl costs me a franc and a half, and that a fine fish costs me four or five francs. Three meals are served at the Bastile, and, as the prisoners, having nothing to do, are always eating, a ten-franc man costs me seven francs and a half.”
“But did you not say that you treated those at ten francs like those at fifteen?”
“Yes, certainly.”
“Very well! Then you gain seven francs and a half upon those who pay you fifteen francs.”
“I must compensate myself somehow,” said Baisemeaux, who saw how he had been snapped up.
“You are quite right, my dear governor; but have you no prisoners below ten francs?”
“Oh, yes! we have citizens and barristers at five francs.
“And do they eat, too?”
“Not a doubt about it; only you understand that they do not get fish or poultry, nor rich wines at every meal; but at all events thrice a week they have a good dish at their dinner.”