micably arranged."

"Tell the Chevalier de Bailleul, sir, that all who bear the name of
Canadian have a claim upon my good nature, particularly any son of a
servant once in my employ. I shall oppose him no further, provided he
but at once replace himself in his own rank. I only, secondly, exact
that the honour of Monsieur de Lery, as the nephew of Madame my wife, be
completely cleared and sustained with his comrades and officers." The
Marquis here noticed that the Record was lying upon the table under the
eyes of the stranger, but the latter continued the conversation.

"That can be done. But it ought to be so arranged as not to interfere
with the standing, for the present, of Monsieur Lecour, because,
Monsieur le Marquis, one of his protectors, the Duc de Liancourt, has
arranged to bestow on him the commandancy of his cadet institute in the
provinces."

"An infinitely better position for him than remaining in the company of
Noailles," remarked de Lotbiniere, removing the Record from the table,
"seeing the Bodyguards have caught the rumour of his birth."

"But it is a part of the arrangement that he should stay in the
Bodyguard eighteen months longer."

"Why should such a person be so much considered? Monsieur de Lery has
done nothing more than tell the exact truth, which is the duty of a man
of honour when pressed by his superiors. He has been most properly
avenged; I see nothing left to arrange."

"But he would be still exposed to a challenge to fight."

"His officers have forbidden him to fight with an inferior."

"There remains the certainty of a caning."

"What do you wish to be done?"

"That Monsieur de Lery should merely say off hand before his friends
that what he had told of Monsieur Lecour was said at hazard."

"Then, sir, tell the Chevalier de Bailleul that when I said I was
willing to arrange that affair amicably I did not know that he would
dare to propose that I commence by consenting to the formal and complete
dishonour of Monsieur de Lery. Judge, now, whether a proposal of the
sort could be made to me about the cousin-germain of my children?"

"Excuse me, Marquis, this was not exactly my meaning, nor that of
Monsieur de Bailleul."

"Inform Monsieur de Bailleul," cried de Lotbiniere, "that he must feel
it impossible, and that all is finished and over by the orders given to
each of them by their respective adjutants."

"No, sir," the stranger sternly cried, in reply, "all is _not_ finished,