tion of
the passage of the Rhine; so, emboldened by the surety of success, I kept
my own courage up.

"Aye, Sire, truth need have no fear from the greatest of all the
Bourbons. Bienville is a soldier, not a courtier, and stung beyond
endurance by the threat of his enemies that they would yet beguile your
Majesty to sell your fair Province of Louisiana, and turn the royal
barracks into a peddler's shop--mayhap he did use some such hot and
thoughtless expressions to me. These, some spy may have overheard and
forwarded here to his hurt. If it please you to hear the words, I will
repeat them upon the oath of an officer."

"Go on," he commanded drily.

"Bienville did say it was a matter of shame to forego such abroad domain
wherein lay so much wealth, because of present troubles. It is his
ambition to found there a new empire in the west, to add a brighter glory
to the name of Bourbon, to plant the silver lilies upon the remotest
boundaries of the earth, calling it all Louisiana, a mighty continent,
without a rival and without a frontier. Ah! Your Majesty has in
Bienville a strong heart and a firm hand, a man who prefers to devote his
life to your service, rather than live at ease in France; a man who
carries more scars for his King than your Majesty has fingers--poorer
to-day than when he entered your service, though others about him have
grown rich."

I told him, too, without reserve, of the contemplated Indian attack in
the spring, of my own haste to return. His face lighted up with the fire
of his thought:

"Then, by my faith," he broke in, "you need a bold, ambitious soldier for
your Governor. What think you, Villars, Chamillard--gentlemen?"

None dared oppose the King.

"I overheard you, Captain, in the gardens yesterday, and think the master
who has taught you such sentiments is a man the King of France can trust.
Convey to the trusty and well beloved Governor of our Province of
Louisiana our renewed confidence, with our assurance he is not to be
disturbed. We make you our royal messenger for the purpose."

Then he gravely inclined his head to signify the interview was done.

As soon as I decently could I left the royal presence and repaired at
once to Serigny. I found him still in his apartments waiting me with
every appearance of intense impatience. Almost as I rapped he had opened
the door himself. The valet had been dismissed. My face--for I was yet
flushed with excitement--told of our vict