The Man in the Iron Mask

, the Bees,

e in his compartment, like the bees in their cells, employed in producing the honey intended for that royal cake which M. Fouquet proposed to offer his majesty Louis XIV. during the fete at Vaux. Pelisson, his head leaning on his hand, was engaged in drawing out the plan of the prologue to the "Facheux," a comedy in three acts, which was to be put on the stage by Poquelin de Moliere, as D'Artagnan called him, or Coquelin de Voliere, as Porthos styled him. Loret, with all the charming innocence of a gazetteer - t

sked the Fabler as Madame d

rhyme to

answered

t talk of wheel-ruts when celebrati

esn't rhyme," a

me!" cried La Font

abit which will ever prevent your becoming a poet o

think so, do

hat a rhyme is never good so l

ine, who had taken up Pelisson's reproach in earnest. "Ah! I often su

too sweeping, and there is much

following up his idea, "I will go and b

re your

my h

in your head you

ntaine; "but if I

happen if you d

my mind, and I shal

"what a dangerous thing!

e!" repeated La Font

d Moliere, who had entered just

at

rst and burn t

t devil of a Moliere has!" said La Fontaine. Then, striking his forehea

nd?" broke in Moliere, approaching

ith a heavy sigh and swimming eyes. "Yes, my friend," he added, wi

wrong to

m a poor

sai

Pelisson; did yo

ed in his work, took g

e so," cried Moliere, "Peliss

u thin

a gentleman, not to leave an

claimed La

u ever

a lieutenant in

ng had he

ran away wi

ration, the others had turned round, Moliere kept upon his lips the rallying s

s the result

ent disarmed me, and then made an apology, p

d yourself satisfi

was told I ought to fight. So, as I have never known any peace save since you made her acquaintance, do me the pleasure to continue your visits as heretofore, or m

ear, perhaps to smother a sigh. Alas! we know that Moliere was a moralist, but he was not a philosop

had already

to challenge him

so, if you think

ndispensable, an

La Fontaine, "I

at? this

whether lumiere does n

make the

knew yo

undred thousand such

'La Pucelle,' which M. Chaplain is meditating. Is it also on thi

rnally absent-minded c

Fontaine, "that legume, for in

lural, ab

then it rhymes not with three letters, bu

n," said La Fontaine, clapping his hand on the shoulder of his fr

oughed P

ge of such things; he declares he has

iere, laughing,

ymes admirably with herbage.

said M

ontaine, "because you are preparing a

he 'Fac

ct. Well, I was thinking a prologue wou

t would suit

are of my

ave asked you to writ

d me to w

egged you to ask Pelisson, who i

ing, then? I'faith, my dear Moli

he

a monstrous defect; I will cure mysel

as Pelisson

t I am! Loret was indeed right

ret who said s

And so your divertissement is called the 'Facheux

liged,

n with c

no,

hazardous, an

eat a difference

ontaine, leaving Moliere fo

said Loret, in the middle

prologue to the 'Fa

eu! it is

ing over to him, "I was fancying," he

aux! thank you, La Fontaine; you have just gi

ntaine," said Pelisson, "tell me now i

should place a verb in the second person singular of the pre

, the verb?"

king of all kings round,

insisted Pelisson. "This second pers

then; q

s grot profound, To admire the g

put 'who quitte

y n

,' after '

claimed La Fontaine, "yo

the second verse, 'king of all kings rou

nothing but a poor creature

er sai

as Lore

Loret either;

hat annoys me more than anything, my dear Moliere, is

yours, then,

after the fete. My housekeeper to

eeper is right; rath

ne, "the fact is, I left it on t

your

on it, which has rath

hat wan form had scared away the Graces to whom Xenocrates sacrificed - silence immediately reigned through the study, and every one resumed his self-possession and his pen. Aramis distributed the notes of invitation, and thanked them in the nam

e; Moliere contributed fifty fresh verses, with which his visit to Percerin had inspired him; Loret, an article on the marvelous fetes he predicted; and Aramis, laden with his booty like the k

st give notice at h

said Loret, smiling

ith his sad, sweet smile. "'He loves,

ne, "they love me at Chatea

tered after a br

ng by Paris, after having passed a quarter of

ere, "I accept it

oret. "M. de Gourville has

e whitings. Find a rhym

oliere followed him. They were at the bottom of the sta

e whitings, In return f

study. As to Moliere, he had undertaken to order the horses, while Aramis went to exchange a pa

t laugh, m

d'Herblay. The fete is appr

ld you that wa

promised m

the day after the kin

. Aramis perceived that the superintendent either doubted him, or felt he was powerless to obta

Aramis. Fouquet smile

e faith!" add

lay," answered Fou

if you

er myself in falling." Then giving himself a shake, as though t

is - from

erin's, for I suppose you attach no g

to prepare

rpr

are going to g

l it cos

pistoles you wi

e better! And what is thi

, whatever you may say or think of it,

y will be ric

so good. People will see the difference there is betw

and grateful,

our s

hand. "And where are

hen you shall have gi

r w

e Lyo

o you want

him sign a let

o you desire to put so

ary - to let

d w

een Bastiled these ten years, for two La

Latin verses,' the miserable bein

es

mmitted no

e is as innocen

our w

my h

is nam

ldo

bad. You knew this,

y his mother applied

woman i

deepest

here are wretches who doubt of its existence. Stay, M. d'Herblay." And Fouquet, taking a pen,

s which were there, each for a thousand francs. "Stay," he said; "set the so

monse

uld say I am but a poor superintendent! Go! and I pray

replied Aramis, kis

nne and the notes for Seldon's mother, and taking up Mol