Les Tragiques. Too depressing.

Mémoires de Monsieur d’Artagnan. Élise’s favorite.

Le traité du monde et de la lumière de Descartes (Descartes’ The World/Treatise on the Light). Never could get through that one.

[Aristotle’s Ethica Nicomachea. Too theoretical for me.]

D’Éon: I am the Chevalier d’Éon. Master swordsman, diplomat and sometimes spy. Do not be confused by my attire. I simply prefer to clothe myself in female garb.

Arno: It is a little confusing.

D’Éon: You are an Assassin. I’m hoping you can help me. But first, I’d like to ensure that you’re the man for the job. There are several swordsmen who will test your acumen. Challenge each of them and draw ‘first blood’… and watch you don’t step on my dress.

Élise: Oh my! That wasn’t the billiard room at all, was it?

Guard: We are pursuing an interloper,

Mademoiselle

(Miss) de la Serre. Have you seen him?

Élise: No! I shouldn’t think they can climb stairs, not with those little hooves! And how did they get out of the royal menagerie?

Guard: Not an antelope, an interloper. A suspicious person. Have you seen anyone like that?

Élise: Hmmm… Oh! There was Madame de Polignac. Her hair has a bird in it. I think she stole it from the royal menagerie.

Guard: Please move aside so we may check this room, mademoiselle.

Élise: You’ll find only me, I’m afraid. I’ve been searching for the billiard room for almost an hour.

Guard: We can show you there, mademoiselle. And we’ll lock the door to prevent any further misunderstandings. This way, mademoiselle.

Élise: Oh, merci, monsieur.

Arno: … If I had one-tenth her wit.

Arno: Didn’t we just escape from a dungeon?

Bellec: It’s not a dungeon. It’s a nerve center. From these tunnels we can get anywhere in the city, all without being seen. We have eyes everywhere.

Arno: Really? Seems visibility would be a problem. Wouldn’t you prefer something with a view?

Bellec: This place has served us well for six hundred years, pisspot.

Arno: Uh-huh. And how long were you standing in the dark waiting for me?

Bellec: Not long. Guillaume spotted you from the bell tower.

Arno: Well, it was quite the entrance.

Bellec: Are you mocking me?

Arno: No, no! God’s truth. Very theatrical.

Bellec: Shut up. We’re here.

Arno: Bonsoir (Good evening), Olivier. Has Monsieur (Mister) De La Serre returned?

Olivier: Seigneur (Lord) De La Serre is not expected until late.

Arno: Ah well. I suppose I’ll just pass the time with Élise then…

Olivier: Don’t get your hopes up just yet. Mademoiselle (The young lady) is at a private soirée. In her honor. At the palace.

Arno: A party? I wasn’t invited.

Olivier: Neither were the horses.