Why, then, do you bid me desire other flowers when I possess the loveliest of all ?" Aramis gazed at the young man in surprise.
"If _flowers_ constitute liberty," sadly resumed the captive, "I am free, for I possess them." "But the air!" cried Aramis; "air is so necessary to life!" "Well, monsieur," returned the prisoner; "draw near to the window; it is open.

Between high heaven and earth the wind whirls on its waftages of hail and lightning, exhales its torrid mist or breathes in gentle breezes.

It caresses my face.

When mounted on the back of this armchair, with my arm around the bars of the window to sustain myself, I fancy I am swimming the wide expanse before me." The countenance of Aramis darkened as the young man continued: "Light I have! what is better than light?
I have the sun, a friend who comes to visit me every day without the permission of the governor or the jailer's company.

He comes in at the window, and traces in my room a square the shape of the window, which lights up the hangings of my bed and floods the very floor.