Calico Illustrated Classics: The Man in the Iron Mask
Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 The Prisoner 4 CHAPTER 2 Monsieur Percerin 11 CHAPTER 3 The Crown and the Tiara 17 CHAPTER 4 The Château de Vaux 26 CHAPTER 5 High Treason 35 CHAPTER 6 The Morning 42 CHAPTER 7 The False King 52 CHAPTER 8 The Ride 58 CHAPTER 9 The Silver Dish 64 CHAPTER 10 The White Horse 71 CHAPTER 11 Ideas of the King 83 CHAPTER 12 The Grotto 91 CHAPTER 13 King Louis XIV 97 CHAPTER 14 Athos’s Vision 101 CHAPTER 15 The Angel of Death 10 6
1 The Prisoner It was a beautiful starry night The steps of three men echoed off the terrace stones and the clinking of the jailer’s keys was heard to the tops of the prison towers On arriving at a door the Bastille’s governor Baisemeaux moved to enter the prisoner’s chamber Aramis stopped him on the threshold The rules do not allow the governor to hear the prisoner’s confession said Aramis Baisemeaux bowed and made way for Aramis to take the lantern and enter Aramis motioned for them to close the door behind him He saw a young man stretched upon his bed with his face half concealed by his arms 4
The young man raised his head and asked What is it Didn’t you want a confessor because you are ill replied Aramis I am better I have no longer the same need of a confessor Not even from the priest of which the note you found in your bread informed you Not to hear an important revelation Aramis asked If it be so I am listening said the young man Do you remember seeing a gentleman and a lady in black silk with flame-colored ribbons in her hair in the village where you spent your early years asked Aramis Yes said the young man They told me he called himself Abbé d’Herblay I was astonished that the abbé had such a warlike manner They replied he was one of Louis XIII’s Musketeers That Musketeer and abbé is now bishop of Vannes and your confessor Aramis said 5
