ays," he added presently.

The thing was clear. The Scarlet Woman was Mathilde. So here was the end
of Voban's little romance--of the fine linen from Ste. Anne de Beaupre
and the silver pitcher for the wedding wine. I saw, or felt, that in
Voban I might find now a confederate, if I put my hard case on Bigot's
shoulders.

"I can't see why she stayed with Bigot," I said tentatively.

"Break the dog's leg, it can't go hunting bones--mais, non! Holy, how
stupid are you English!"

"Why doesn't the Intendant lock her up now? She's dangerous to him. You
remember what she said?"

"Tonnerre, you shall see to-morrow," he answered; "now all the sheep go
bleating with the bell. Bigot--Bigot--Bigot--there is nothing but Bigot!
But, pish! Vaudreuil the Governor is the great man, and Montcalm, aho!
son of Mahomet! You shall see. Now they dance to Bigot's whistling; he
will lock her safe enough to-morrow, 'less some one steps in to help
her. Before to-night she never spoke of him before the world--but a
poor daft thing, going about all sad and wild. She missed her chance
to-night--aho!"

"Why are you not with Montcalm's soldiers?" I asked. "You like him
better."

"I was with him, but my time was out, and I left him for Bigot. Pish! I
left him for Bigot, for the militia!" He raised his thumb to his nose,
and spread out his fingers. Again light dawned on me. He was still with
the Governor in all fact, though soldiering for Bigot--a sort of watch
upon the Intendant.

I saw my chance. If I could but induce this fellow to fetch me Voban!
There was yet an hour before I was to go to the intendance.

I called up what looks of candour were possible to me, and told him
bluntly that I wished Voban to bear a letter for me to the Seigneur
Duvarney's. At that he cocked his ear and shook his bushy head, fiercely
stroking his mustaches.

I knew that I should stake something if I said it was a letter for
Mademoiselle Duvarney, but I knew also that if he was still the
Governor's man in Bigot's pay he would understand the Seigneur's
relations with the Governor. And a woman in the case with a
soldier--that would count for something. So I said it was for her.
Besides, I had no other resource but to make a friend among my enemies,
if I could, while yet there was a chance.

It was like a load lifted from me when I saw his mouth and eyes open
wide in a big soundless laugh, which came to an end with a voiceless
aho! I gave him another tumbler of