"Your Honor must be a stranger in New France or you would not express
such hasty, honest sentiments upon the Intendant's hospitality. It is
not the fashion, except among plain-spoken habitans, who always
talk downright Norman." Master Pothier looked approvingly at Colonel
Philibert, who, listening with indignant ears, scarcely heeded his
guide.

"That is a jolly song, your Honor," continued Pothier, waving one hand
in cadence to a ditty in praise of wine, which a loud voice was heard
singing in the Chateau, accompanied by a rousing chorus which startled
the very pigeons on the roof and chimney-stacks. Colonel Philibert
recognized the song as one he had heard in the Quartier Latin, during
his student life in Paris--he fancied he recognized the voice also:

"'Pour des vins de prix
Vendons tous nos livres!
C'est pen d'etre gris,
Amis, soyons ivres!
Bon.
La Faridondaine!
Gai.
La Faridonde!'"

A roar of voices and a clash of glasses followed the refrain. Master
Pothier's eyes winked and blinked in sympathy. The old notary stood
on tiptoe, with outspread palms, as with ore rotundo he threw in a few
notes of his own to fill up the chorus.

Philibert cast upon his guide a look of scorn, biting his lip angrily.
"Go," said he, "knock at the door--it needs God's thunder to break in
upon that infamous orgie. Say that Colonel Philibert brings orders from
His Excellency the Governor to the Chevalier Intendant."

"And be served with a writ of ejectment! Pardon me! Be not angry, sir,"
pleaded Pothier supplicatingly, "I dare not knock at the door when they
are at the devil's mass inside. The valets! I know them all! They would
duck me in the brook, or drag me into the hall to make sport for the
Philistines. And I am not much of a Samson, your Honor. I could not pull
the Chateau down upon their heads--I wish I could!"

Master Pothier's fears did not appear ill-grounded to Philibert as a
fresh burst of drunken uproar assailed his ears. "Wait my return," said
he, "I will knock on the door myself." He left his guide, ran up the
broad stone steps, and knocked loudly upon the door again and again! He
tried it at last, and to his surprise found it unlatched; he pushed it
open, no servitor appearing to admit him. Colonel Philibert went boldly
in. A blaze of light almost dazzled his eyes. The Chateau was lit up
with lamps and candelabra in every part.