take about
_third_ or _supernumerary_ or _private_. Here it is. Seal and carry it.
Have you brought me no mail this morning?"

"I was about to hand you this note, Monseigneur."

De Lotbiniere looked methodically at the seal, the handwriting, and the
date of the postmark.

"Go," he said to the servant.

The incoming letter was from Louis de Lery, begging his uncle's advice
in the affair of Lecour.

"The horror I have," wrote he, after relating the circumstances,
"is not of death, for in that respect I shall not be found unworthy
of our ancestors. It is solely the horror--the disgust--of being
compelled to measure myself with a being so ill-assorted. I cannot
limit myself in expressions at my comrades who force this upon me,
nor of detestation and repugnance towards _the creature itself_.
What am I do? Your experience just now would be invaluable to me.

"LOUIS R. C. DE LERY."

"_Peste_, what a fine mess for us all!" de Lotbiniere exclaimed. "The
persistence of this fellow is incredible. They say de Bailleul supports
him. I shall begin, then, by removing the support of de Bailleul. Louis
must not fight this duel."

He picked out a sheet from his pile of gilt-edged note-paper, laid it
down, selected a quill and tried it, then wrote de Bailleul a sharp
letter, as follows--

"MON CHER DE BAILLEUL,--They tell me to my amazement that it is you
who are the protector of the young Canadian Lecour, who is just
now making such a noise as an adventurer. He has at least obtained
a high commission in the Bodyguard by the use of your name. I have
no doubt that you are aware that he is the son of Lecour of St.
Elphege, my former _cantineer_. Can it be true that, knowing his
birth to be so base, you go so far as to permit him the use of your
position in these intrigues? If that be so--for I hesitate to
credit it--let me go farther and remark that a most serious
consequence has just followed his indiscretion. He challenges my
nephew, de Lery, for a date fixed and imminent. We consider you
responsible for this situation. I consequently trust that you will
find some way to suppress your brazen-faced _protege_.

"And I have the honour to be, sir, &c.,
"THE MIS. DE CHARTIER DE LOTBINIERE."

"That will end him," remarked he, and reading it over, he folded,
addressed and sealed it, and putting on his hat and gloves p