at Jasmin
was actually a prisoner there. He was further enabled to send to the
marquis the mutilated letter supposed to have been destroyed by
Isidore, and this circumstance not only cleared away that imputation,
but proved beyond question that Isidore had had grounds for supposing
that his father had no objection to his union with Marguerite.

Full of remorse for his unjust suspicions, the marquis felt his old
affection for his son revive more strongly than ever, and when he
subsequently received further accounts to the effect that Isidore had
gone to Fort Duquesne, but that he had not since been heard of, he
could no longer restrain his ardent longing to seek out his lost son,
and do him at least some tardy justice. In the first place, however,
he proceeded to Paris in order that he might use all his influence to
ascertain how matters stood in regard to the _lettre de cachet_, and,
if possible, to obtain its revocation. To his astonishment he found
that, through the influence of Montcalm, the king's warrant had already
been cancelled; but about Isidore himself he could learn nothing, and
he consequently resolved to proceed at once to Canada in search of him.

He had, however, by this time learned by experience that any plan of
his might be thwarted if it once came to the ears of Madame de
Valricour, and without even communicating his intentions to the
marchioness, he returned home by way of Nantes, where he made
arrangements for his voyage to Quebec. This was no easy matter; it was
well known that the English fleet was already on its way up the St.
Lawrence with General Wolfe's army to undertake the siege of Quebec,
and French vessels could no longer hope to reach that place. But the
marquis was prepared to pay almost any sum for the accomplishment of
his object, and with the help of Jean Perigord the innkeeper he at last
prevailed on a certain Maitre Duboscq to undertake the task, and
endeavour at least to land the marquis as near Quebec as possible.
This being settled, M. de Beaujardin proceeded home to take leave of
his wife and inform her of his purpose.

He had reckoned without his host, and little knew that Madame de
Valricour was well informed of all his movements. No sooner had he
reached the chateau than that lady calmly informed him that she had
resolved to go out and join her husband, and would feel indebted to him
if he would write to Nantes and procure a passage for her.

Thoroughly convinced th