marked, and I very
much fear that this new source of danger will only increase it."

The secretary was a very old man who listened attentively to his
superior, biting the feathers of his pen and giving other signs of
nervous excitement.

"I am certain, sir, that you do not exaggerate the situation," he said,
speaking slowly, but with emphasis. "We are on the eve of a crisis, and
I suspect that this time next week the town of Three Rivers will be in
the hands of the Bastonnais. We have no means of resistance, and even if
we had, there is too much dissension in our midst to attempt it with any
hope of success. The next question which arises is whether it were best
for you to provide for your own safety as well as that of the archives
and registers of the town."

"I will do neither," replied the Commandant with dignity. "As for
myself, the duty of my office is to remain in charge until I am
dispossessed by force. Personal violence I do not fear, but should I be
subjected to such, I will endure it. Remember that you and I know what
war is. We both passed through the terrible years of the Conquest. With
respect to the archives, you will see that they are properly guarded,
but they must not be removed. The enemy are not barbarians. On the
contrary it is their policy to conciliate as much as possible. Besides,
they will only pass through Three Rivers."

"They will do more than that, sir. As they intend to march upon Quebec,
around whose walls they will more than probably spend the winter, it
will be a matter of military necessity for them to occupy all the little
towns and villages on their route between Quebec and Montreal, both for
the sake of their commissariat and as recruiting stations."

"Recruiting stations! Don't use those hateful words."

"They are hateful words, sir. But they express a fact which we must
face. Unless we are very careful, this war will be aggravated by the
circumstance of many of our countrymen turning their arms against us."

This conversation which we have briefly introduced in order to afford
the reader glimpses of the situation, relieved as much as possible from
the dryness of mere historical detail, was interrupted by the arrival of
a messenger who delivered a letter to the Governor.

"This is from Sorel," exclaimed the official. "It comes just in time to
throw light upon our affairs and will enable Lieutenant Hardinge, who
returns to-morrow, to bring the latest news to Quebec."

Saying