neral, and at last falling myself, than to spend good years a hostage
at Quebec, knowing that Canada was for our taking, yet doing nothing to
advance the hour!

In the thick of these thoughts I was not conscious of what the two were
saying, but at last I caught Madame Cournal's name; by which I guessed
Monsieur Doltaire was talking of her amours, of which the chief and
final was with Bigot the Intendant, to whom the King had given all civil
government, all power over commerce and finance in the country. The
rivalry between the Governor and the Intendant was keen and vital at
this time, though it changed later, as I will show. At her name I looked
up and caught Monsieur Doltaire's eye.

He read my thoughts. "You have had blithe hours here, monsieur," he
said--"you know the way to probe us; but of all the ladies who could be
most useful to you, you left out the greatest. There you erred. I say it
as a friend, not as an officer, there you erred. From Madame Cournal
to Bigot, from Bigot to Vaudreuil the Governor, from the Governor to
France. But now--"

He paused, for Madame Duvarney and her daughter had come, and we all
rose.

The ladies had heard enough to know Doltaire's meaning. "But
now--Captain Moray dines with us," said Madame Duvarney quietly and
meaningly.

"Yet I dine with Madame Cournal," rejoined Doltaire, smiling.

"One may use more option with enemies and prisoners," she said keenly,
and the shot ought to have struck home. In so small a place it was
not easy to draw lines close and fine, and it was in the power of the
Intendant, backed by his confederates, to ruin almost any family in the
province if he chose; and that he chose at times I knew well, as did my
hostess. Yet she was a woman of courage and nobility of thought, and I
knew well where her daughter got her good flavor of mind.

I could see something devilish in the smile at Doltaire's lip's, but
his look was wandering between Alixe and me, and he replied urbanely, "I
have ambition yet--to connive at captivity"; and then he looked full and
meaningly at her.

I can see her now, her hand on the high back of a great oak chair, the
lace of her white sleeve falling away, and her soft arm showing, her
eyes on his without wavering. They did not drop, nor turn aside; they
held straight on, calm, strong--and understanding. By that look I saw
she read him; she, who had seen so little of the world, felt what he
was, and met his invading interest firmly,