t Jean
Chamilly D'Argentenaye, cadet of the Chamillys of Rouen, is our first
predecessor on these lands."

Taking a large genealogical tree out of the box, and spreading it on the
table, he showed me my descent. "The Honorable Chateauguay drew this up
at the time of my marriage," he began.

"The whole tree is mine then?" I ventured, surveying it.

"Yes," he cried, "and these are brave and honorable names! The wish of
my heart has been that you preserve their record. See: the first
marriage is a Mlle. Boucher de Boucherville, whose father, Pierre,
Governor of Three Rivers, was so honest and wise in the perilous early
course of the Colony! Madeline de Vercheres, heroic holder of the fort
surprised by Iroquois, is near her. See! we date from the fourteenth
century, and are allied with the Montaignes, Grammonts, Sullys, La
Rochefoucaulds. Here is Le Moyne d'Iberville, and there De Hertel, brave
and able,--a Juchereau du Chesnay; a Joybert de Soulanges. Down here is
De Salaberry, the Leonidas of Lower Canada. There behold Philippe de
Gaspe, who wrote 'Les Anciens Canadiens;' there Gaspard Joly, the Knight
of Lotbiniere.--But you can inform yourself about these names. They will
be useful in your enterprises by raising you above the reproach of being
an adventurer. Seat yourself over there."

"My father," thought I to myself, "you and your pride are both very much
out of date," but I obeyed him and seated myself where he indicated.

"The reason why I have brought you here, is to tell you, that it has
always been intended that you should in some way, succeed in these
properties. Before you developed, it was not possible to predict exactly
how you might do it; but within the last few years you have surpassed
our hopes; and I have no trepidation in putting before you my views of
your future position. You may think I am strong in health, but I shall
soon pass away."

My heart suddenly started.

"And you will find yourself here with revenues ample for the moderate
purposes of a gentleman. You may live in the country, or in the city, as
you please; but my desire is that you should live here, and continue in
the paths of your grandfather and myself: for he was a just Englishman,
and taught me that no one must take without an equivalent; and that a
landlord owed duties to his people, of the value of the moneys they paid
him. Formerly the lord gave his vassals armed protection for their
rents: now there is nothing to which the