handed down to me. I have no
child. God knows I would give up the accursed heritage if I could.

"During all these years a careful record has been kept of the true
lineage, which was only broken in my father's time. Here in this
packet are the papers which prove it; I confide them to you upon my
death. After I am gone I want you to find the last d'Artin."

He was silent now a long time, then continued in a lower tone: "My
mother was of the reformed religion and I embraced her faith. It seems
like a judgment of God that I, a Huguenot, should lose under King Louis
what my Catholic ancestor gained under King Charles. Now go, lad."

I could say nothing, but touching his hand in mute sympathy turned away
without a word.

I had almost reached the door when he sprang after and again detained
me. His glance searched apprehensively into the shadowy corners of the
room, his voice wavered, the look of a hunted animal crept into his
eyes.

"'Tis said," he whispered, "the restless spirits of my fathers yet
haunt our castle in Normandy--oh, merciful God, do you believe it? Oh
no, no, after all these troubled years I fain would find a dreamless
slumber in my grave."

I soothed him as I would a frightened child, and left him standing at
the door.

CHAPTER II

BIENVILLE

Musing on this strange story, and the old man's unwonted fear, I walked
on down to the water's edge where my Indian friends, already in the
pirogue, awaited me. Another half hour and we were in Biloxi.

When we reached the barracks I found orders to attend the governor at
once.

Bienville stood before his fire alone, quiet, but in a very different
mood from any in which I had theretofore seen him.

"Captain de Mouret," the rough old warrior began, without any prelude
or indirection, "I desire to send you at once to Paris on an errand of
the utmost importance to myself and to this colony. I select you for
this task, though I can ill spare you here, because it is a delicate
matter. I believe you to be honest, I know you are courageous."

I bowed, and he went on. Something had evidently occurred to vex and
irritate him.

"You know the people who surround me here, the weak, the vicious, the
licentious of all the earth. A band of unprincipled adventurers, vile
Canadians and half-breeds, all too lazy to work, or even to feed
themselves out of the bountiful earth which would give everything we
need almost for the asking. The air is full n