tiful by the _habitants_ as
that of his black silk leg, as, with his robe fluttering out in the
breezes, he seemed to be flying from his office across the street to the
court-house, followed by a bevy of clients.

He listened, standing, to the respectful request of Lecour, helped out
in his explanations by Germain, who desired to have the pleader obtain
for them the requisite order of the Judge.

"Ah," said he, "I see, gentlemen, you do not appreciate the importance
of your case. Such a matter ought to be made the subject of the
profoundest studies, and we should at length approach the Legislature
itself with a petition and demand the passage of a private bill. The
affair tempts my powers."

"But we have no special wish for publicity."

"Gentlemen, you know not what would be your good fortune. It would make
you the talk of the Province. _In re Lecour_ would be a great
precedent."

"Such is not our desire."

"What! not to establish a precedent?"

"No, Mr. Advocate," Germain said firmly; "a simple petition to obtain
this order is what we want. We must have it, and quickly, and nothing
more."

"Ah, then, this is what you want," said he. "I will draw it for you,"
and, sitting down, he wrote out a document as follows:--

"To the Honourable Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the
District of Montreal:

"The petition of Francois Xavier LeCour de Lincy, Esquire, residing
at St. Elphege, respectfully shews:--That when he contracted
marriage with Mademoiselle Lanier, he knew not that he was of noble
origin, having left Europe at a very early age with scarcely any
knowledge of his family; that since then he has learned of his
extraction and obtained his titles of _noblesse_ which he now
presents to your Honours in evidence.

"Wherefore may it please your Honours to grant an order upon
Maitre d'Aguilhe, Notary, of St. Elphege, to add to the minute of
his contract of marriage the name and title of 'de Lincy, Esquire';
and you will do justice."

"Sign, sir, please."

Francois Xavier attached his signature.

"It will do," Rottot sighed; "but I should have preferred the
precedent."

They crossed the road and entered the court-room.

A rubicund, easy-going old judge, Fraser by name, sat on the bench, the
royal arms painted large in oils on a canvas behind him. In front were a
lawyer or two and a few clients--a slack court. Rottot, with a flourish,