x livres； for two new sleeves to the king's old doublet； twenty sols； for a box of grease to grease the boots of the king； fifteen deniers； a stable newly made to lodge the king's black pigs； thirty livres parisis； many partitions； planks； and trap…doors； for the safekeeping of the lions at Saint…Paul； twenty…two livres。〃
〃These be dear beasts；〃 said Louis XI。 〃It matters not； it is a fine magnificence in a king。 There is a great red lion whom I love for his pleasant ways。 Have you seen him； Master Guillaume？ Princes must have these terrific animals； for we kings must have lions for our dogs and tigers for our cats。 The great befits a crown。 In the days of the pagans of Jupiter； when the people offered the temples a hundred oxen and a hundred sheep； the emperors gave a hundred lions and a hundred eagles。 This was wild and very fine。 The kings of France have always had roarings round their throne。 Nevertheless； people must do me this justice； that I spend still less money on it than they did； and that I possess a greater modesty of lions； bears； elephants； and leopards。Go on； Master Olivier。 We wished to say thus much to our Flemish friends。〃
Guillaume Rym bowed low； while Coppenole； with his surly mien； had the air of one of the bears of which his majesty was speaking。 The king paid no heed。 He had just dipped his lips into the goblet； and he spat out the beverage； saying： 〃Foh！ what a disagreeable potion！〃 The man who was reading continued：
〃For feeding a rascally footpad； locked up these six months in the little cell of the flayer； until it should be determined what to do with him； six livres； four sols。〃
〃What's that？〃 interrupted the king； 〃feed what ought to be hanged！ ~Pasque…Dieu~！ I will give not a sou more for that nourishment。 Olivier； come to an understanding about the matter with Monsieur d'Estouteville； and prepare me this very evening the wedding of the gallant and the gallows。 Resume。〃
Olivier made a mark with his thumb against the article of the 〃rascally foot soldier；〃 and passed on。
〃To Henriet Cousin； master executor of the high works of justice in Paris； the sum of sixty sols parisis； to him assessed and ordained by monseigneur the provost of Paris； for having bought； by order of the said sieur the provost； a great broad sword； serving to execute and decapitate persons who are by justice condemned for their demerits； and he hath caused the same to be garnished with a sheath and with all things thereto appertaining； and hath likewise caused to be repointed and set in order the old sword； which had become broken and notched in executing justice on Messire Louis de Luxembourg； as will more fully appear 。
The king interrupted： 〃That suffices。 I allow the sum with great good will。 Those are expenses which I do not begrudge。 I have never regretted that money。 Continue。〃
〃For having made over a great cage。。。〃
〃Ah！〃 said the king； grasping the arms of his chair in both hands； 〃I knew well that I came hither to this Bastille for some purpose。 Hold； Master Olivier； I desire to see that cage myself。 You shall read me the cost while I am examining it。 Messieurs Flemings； come and see this； 'tis curious。〃
Then he rose； leaned on the arm of his interlocutor； made a sign to the sort of mute who stood before the door to precede him； to the two Flemings to follow him； and quitted the room。
The royal company was recruited； at the door of the retreat； by men of arms； all loaded down with iron； and by slender pages bearing flambeaux。 It marched for some time through the interior of the gloomy donjon； pierced with staircases and corridors even in the very thickness of the walls。 The captain of the Bastille marched at their head； and caused the wickets to be opened before the bent and aged king； who coughed as he walked。
At each wicket； all heads were obliged to stoop； except that of the old man bent double with age。 〃Hum；〃 said he between his gums； for he had no longer any teeth； 〃we are already quite prepared for the door of the sepulchre。 For a low door； a bent passer。〃
At length； after having passed a final wicket； so loaded with locks that a quarter of an hour was required to open it； they entered a vast and lofty vaulted hall； in the centre of which they could distinguish by the light of the torches； a huge cubic mass of masonry； iron； and wood。 The interior was hollow。 It was one of those famous cages of prisoners of state； which were called 〃the little daughters of the king。〃 In its walls there were two or three little windows so closely trellised with stout iron bars； that the glass was not visible。 The door was a large flat slab of stone； as on tombs； the sort of door which serves for entrance only。 Only here； the occupant was alive。
The king began to walk slowly round the little edifice； examining it carefully； while Master Olivier； who followed him； read aloud the note。
〃For having made a great cage of wood of solid beams； timbers and wall…plates； measuring nine feet in length by eight in breadth； and of the height of seven feet between the partitions； smoothed and clamped with great bolts of iron； which has been placed in a chamber situated in one of the towers of the Bastille Saint…Antoine； in which cage is placed and detained； by command of the king our lord； a prisoner who formerly inhabited an old； decrepit； and ruined cage。 There have been employed in making the said new cage； ninety…six horizontal beams； and fifty…two upright joists； ten wall plates three toises long； there have been occupied nineteen carpenters to hew； work； and fit all the said wood in the courtyard of the Bastille during twenty days。〃
〃Very fine heart of oak；〃 said the king； striking the woodwork with his fist。
〃There have been used in this cage；〃 continued the other； 〃two hundred and twenty great bolts of iron； of nine feet； and of eight； the rest of medium length； with the rowels； caps and counterbands appertaining to the said bolts； weighing； the said iron in all； three thousand； seven hundred and thirty…five pounds； beside eight great squares of iron； serving to attach the said cage in place with clamps and nails weighing in all two hundred and eighteen pounds； not reckoning the iron of the trellises for the windows of the chamber wherein the cage hath been placed； the bars of iron for the door of the cage and other things。〃
〃'Tis a great deal of iron；〃 said the king； 〃to contain the light of a spirit。〃
〃The whole amounts to three hundred and seventeen livres； five sols； seven deniers。〃
〃~Pasque…Dieu~！〃 exclaimed the king。
At this oath； which was the favorite of Louis XI。； some one seemed to awaken in the interior of the cage； the sound of chains was heard； grating on the floor； and a feeble voice； which seemed to issue from the tomb was uplifted。 〃Sire！ sire！ mercy！〃 The one who spoke thus could not be seen。
〃Three hundred and seventeen livres； five sols； seven deniers；〃 repeated Louis XI。
The lamentable voice which had proceeded from the cage had frozen all present； even Master Olivier himself。 The king alone wore the air of not having heard。 At his order； Master Olivier resumed his reading； and his majesty coldly continued his inspection of the cage。
〃In addition to this there hath been paid to a mason who hath made the holes wherein to place the gratings of the windows； and the floor of the chamber where the cage is； because that floor could not support this cage by reason of its weight； twenty…seven livres fourteen sols parisis。〃
The voice began to moan again。
〃Mercy； sire！ I swear to you that 'twas Monsieur the Cardinal d'Angers and not I； who was guilty of treason。〃
〃The mason is bold！〃 said the king。 〃Continue； Olivier。〃 Olivier continued；
〃To a joiner for window frames； bedstead； hollow stool； and other things； twenty livres； two sols parisis。〃
The voice also continued。
〃Alas； sire！ will you not listen to me？ I protest to you that 'twas not I who wrote the matter to Monseigneur do Guyenne； but Monsieur le Cardinal Balue。〃
〃The joiner is dear；〃 quoth the king。 〃Is that all？〃
〃No； sire。 To a glazier； for the windows of the said chamber； forty…six sols； eight deniers parisis。〃
〃Have mercy； sire！ Is it not enough to have given all my goods to my judges； my plate to Monsieur de Torcy； my library to Master Pierre Doriolle； my tapestry to the governor of the Roussillon？ I am innocent。 I have been shivering in an iron cage for fourteen years。 Have mercy； sire！ You will find your reward in heaven。〃
〃Master Olivier；〃 said the king； 〃the total？〃
〃Three hundred sixty…seven livres； eight sols； three deniers parisis。
〃Notre…Dame！〃 cried the king。 〃This is an outrageous cage！〃
He tore the book from Master Olivier's hands； and set to reckoning it himself upon his fingers； examining the paper and the cage alternately。 Meanwhile； the prisoner could be heard sobbing。 This was lugubrious in the darkness； and their faces turned pale as they looked at each other。
〃Fourteen years； sire！ Fourteen years now！ since the month of April； 1469。 In the name of the Holy Mother of God； sire； listen to me！ During all this time you have enjoyed the heat of the sun。 Shall I； frail creature； never more behold the day？ Mercy； sire！ Be pitiful！ Clemency is a fine； royal virtue； which turns aside the currents of wrath。 Does your majesty believe that in the hour of death it will be a great cause of content for a king never to have left any offence unpunished？ Besides； sire； I did not betray your majesty； 'twas Monsieur d'Angers； and I have on my foot a very heavy chain； and a great ball of iron at the end； much heavier than it should be in reason。 Eh！ sire！ Have pity on me！〃
〃Olivier；〃 cried the king； throwing back his head； 〃I observe that they charge me twenty sols a hogshead for plaster； while it is worth but twelve。 You will refer back this account。〃
He turned his back on the cage； and set out to leave the room。 The miserable prisoner divined from the removal of the torches and the noise； that the king was taking his departure。
〃Sire！ sire！〃 be cried in despair。
The door closed again。 He no longer saw anything； and heard only the hoarse voice of the turnkey； singing in his ears this ditty；