honor he proposes to accord to me to obtain from him some amelioration of our captivity.”

“Which cannot last,” interrupted Comminges; “the cardinal said so; there is no prison here.”

“But there are oubliettes!” replied Athos, smiling.

“Oh! that’s a different thing; yes, I know there are traditions of that sort,” said Comminges. “It was in the time of the other cardinal, who was a great nobleman; but our Mazarin — impossible! an Italian adventurer would not dare to go such lengths with such men as ourselves.

Oubliettes are employed as a means of kingly vengeance, and a low-born fellow such as he is would not have recourse to them.