"A singular proof of affection that!" returned the duke.
"But, Monseigneur," continued La Ramée, sipping at a glass of Madeira, "what would you do if you were set at liberty? You would only get into some new scrape, and be sent to the Bastile instead of to Vincennes."
"Indeed!" said the duke, considerably amused at the turn the conversation was taking, and glancing at the clock, of which the hands, as he thought, advanced more slowly than usual.
"M. de Chavigny is not very amiable," said La Ramée, "but M. de Tremblay is a great deal worse. You may depend, Monseigneur, that it was a real kindness to send you here, where you breathe a fine air, and have nothing to do but to eat and drink, and play at ball."
"According to your account, La Ramée, I was very ungrateful ever to think of escaping."
"Exceedingly so," replied La Ramée; "but your highness never did think seriously of it."
"Indeed did I, though!" said the duke; "and what is more, folly though it may be, I sometimes think of it still."
"Still by one of your forty plans, Monseigneur?"
The duke nodded affirmatively.
"Monseigneur," resumed La Ramée, "since you have so far honoured me with your confidence, I wish you would tell me one of the forty methods of escape which your highness had invented."