tradition by not
striking him once!"

Mde. De Rheims now introduced me to two people simultaneously--Sir
Georges Mondelet, Chief-Justice, and the ruddy lady, Mde. Fauteux of
Quebec. The Chief Justice was of that good old type, at sight of which
the word gentil-homme springs naturally to one's lips He was small in
figure, but his features were clearly cut, and the falling of the cheeks
and deepening of lines produced by approach of age, had but imparted to
them an increased, repose. His clear gaze and fine balance of expression
denoted that remarkable common sense and personal honor for which I
divined his judgments and conduct must be respected. His smile was
charming, and displayed a set of well-preserved teeth. The few words he
spoke to me were not remarkable. They were simple and kind like his
movements.

To Mde. Fauteux I offered my arm, and conducted her into the large
conservatory opening off the parlors, where we walked.

"Is it not a great privilege, Monsieur, to be an Englishman?" she began
with polite banter. "You are the conquerors, the millionaires; yours are
the palaces, and the high and honorable places! But you, Monsieur, you
are not too proud to patronize our little receptions."

"Pardon me, Madame, I am not English."

"Is that true? But you have the air."

"There is no air I could prefer to that of a man like Sir Georges
Mondelet."

"Nor I too, in seriousness. That is the true French gentleman. He cares
little even for his title, and prefers to be called _Mr._ Mondelet,
holding his judicial office in greater esteem. I once heard him say in
joke, 'that there could be many Knights but only one Chief Justice.'"

"That is true," I said.

"Yes, it is true," she echoed. "Law is a noble philosophy, and its
profession the most brilliant of the highways to fame."

"Do you know," she continued, "that we inherit our law from the Romans.
This beautiful system, this philosophic justice of our Province, is the
imperial legacy bequeathed us by that Empire in which we once took our
share as rulers of the world--the shadow of the mighty wings under which
our ancestors reposed. We all have Roman, blood in our veins. Do you see
that face there?--that is a Roman face. Our Church speaks Latin, and
looks to the city of Caesar. Our own speech is a Latin tongue. The
classics of our young men's study are still those that were current on
the Forum. Our law is Roman law."

If the gaiety of the French world had sati