# The Second Floor of La Bertaudière explained — The Vicomte de Bragelonne

> Chapter companion for The Vicomte de Bragelonne by Alexandre Dumas.

## What happens

Aramis and Baisemeaux visit the Bastille, where Aramis examines a prisoner's register and secures a debt acknowledgment. They then ascend to the third floor to see a young prisoner who desperately begs for his mother and freedom, causing Aramis distress. Finally, they visit a second prisoner on the second floor, a calm, resigned young man who has been imprisoned for seven years, knows not his name or age, and whose presence deeply unsettles Aramis.

## Themes in this chapter

### Court Intrigue and Deception

Aramis disguises his true purpose as an architect to gain access to the Bastille and manipulate Baisemeaux.

### Fate and Tragedy

The young prisoners' fates are sealed by forces beyond their control; Seldon's tragic plea and Marchiali's resigned acceptance highlight the tragedy of unjust imprisonment.

### The Nature of Kingship

The hinted resemblance of Marchiali to Louis XIV raises questions about legitimacy, identity, and the dark secrets of the monarchy.

## Character check-ins

### Aramis

Visits the Bastille under the guise of an architect; examines prisoner records, secures a financial acknowledgment from Baisemeaux, and is deeply affected by the prisoners he encounters.

### Baisemeaux de Montlezun

Governor of the Bastille; shows Aramis the prisoner register, writes a debt acknowledgment, and accompanies him on the prison visit.

### Seldon

Young prisoner on the third floor; pleads desperately for his mother and freedom, having been imprisoned for writing a distich.

### Marchiali

Mysterious prisoner on the second floor; calm, resigned, and unaware of his identity or the reason for his seven-year imprisonment; his resemblance to the king is hinted at.

## Key lines

> No books at any time; all linen and clothes of the finest and best quality to be procured; no exercise; always the same jailer; no communications with anyone. Musical instruments; every liberty and every indulgence which his welfare may require; to be boarded at fifteen francs.

The prisoner is to have no books, only the finest clothes and linens, no exercise, a single jailer, no contact with others, but musical instruments and all indulgences for his comfort, at a boarding cost of fifteen francs.

_Aramis reads the special instructions for the mysterious prisoner, indicating privileged treatment._

> Oh, Monsieur! keep me in solitude for a year, let me have nothing but bread and water for a year, but tell me that at the end of a year I shall leave this place, tell me that at the end of a year I shall see my mother again.

The young prisoner begs to be allowed to leave after a year of harsh conditions, just to see his mother again.

_Seldon's desperate plea highlights his suffering and longing for freedom._

> I felt that as I had committed no crime, Heaven could not punish me.

The prisoner reasoned that since he was innocent, divine justice would not allow him to suffer.

_Marchiali explains his philosophical resignation to imprisonment._

## Links

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