have acted on
hasty information. To do you entire justice, I shall make it my duty to
look over these documents, which are doubtless entirely correct, and
will then do the best in my power to rectify this injury so painful and
regrettable. A moment, sir."

He went to the gallery and called out--

"Panet."

"Coming," a hearty voice returned from the garden.

"It is my friend the Judge," remarked the Councillor, returning to the
room; "he will serve you as an excellent witness of the evidence you are
producing."

"Upon my word, your grapes this year are divine," exclaimed the Judge
entering, holding up a large bunch in his hand. He stopped and bowed to
Germain.

"Monsieur LeCour de Lincy here has some papers to show us," de Lery
proceeded, "which refute that unfortunate report arising from the
letters of my son."

Lecour produced his papers, and on perusal of them for some time, both
Panet and de Lery pronounced them perfect.

"I owe you the sincerest formal apology, Monsieur de Lincy," de Lery
said.

"More than that, sir," Germain returned stiffly. "You minimise the
damage done. A written retraction is due me, to exhibit in those
quarters where I have been so deeply injured, and without which I can
never wholly regain my reputation."

"Not demurring, sir, I freely admit that we owe you this reparation. If
you will draw up and send me what will be useful to you, I shall gladly
sign it."

"Stop, gentlemen, let me say a word," Judge Panet interposed. "Such a
writing being so delicate a matter, to be just to both parties, ought to
be drawn by a third. I think I am in a position to do this; will you
leave the matter to me?"

"I am the person who was injured, and the only one who knows what will
effectively right me," Lecour answered;

"He is correct," said de Lery.

Panet did not push the point further but turned away, and the Chevalier
showed the young man out of the house.

By noon, the following letter was received to sign--

"AT QUEBEC, _the 2nd October, 1788_.

"MONSIEUR,--It is with much pleasure that I consent to grant you
the satisfaction you ask. I hereby confess that I have been wrong
in spreading the report that you have taken another name than that
of your family. I retract it publicly and I assure you in that
respect with the greatest frankness that I am fully convinced that
the story which led me to commit this indiscretion is absolutely
false and