if you must
toast his sister, wait till we get him body and soul made over to the
Grand Company, and then he will care no more for his sister's fame than
you do for yours."

"But the insult! He has drawn blood with the goblet," said Deschenaux,
wiping his forehead with his fingers; "I cannot pardon that!"

"Tut, tut; fight him another day. But you shall not fight here! Cadet
and Le Mercier have pinned the young Bayard, I see; so you have a chance
to do the honorable; Deschenaux; go to him, retract the toast, and say
you had forgotten the fair lady was his sister."

Deschenaux swallowed his wrath, rose up, and sheathed his sword. Taking
the Intendant by the arm, he went up to Le Gardeur, who was still trying
to advance. Deschenaux held up his hand deprecatingly. "Le Gardeur,"
said he, with an air of apparent contrition, "I was wrong to offer that
toast. I had forgotten the fair lady was your sister. I retract the
toast, since it is disagreeable to you, although all would have been
proud to drink it."

Le Gardeur was as hard to appease as he was easy to excite to anger. He
still held his drawn sword in his hand.

"Come!" cried Bigot, "you are as hard to please as Villiers Vendome,
whom the King himself could not satisfy. Deschenaux says he is sorry.
A gentleman cannot say more; so shake hands and be friends, De
Repentigny."

Impervious to threats, and often to reason, Le Gardeur could not resist
an appeal to his generosity.

He sheathed his sword, and held out his hand with frank forgiveness.
"Your apology is ample, Sieur Deschenaux. I am satisfied you meant no
affront to my sister! It is my weak point, messieurs," continued he,
looking firmly at the company, ready to break out had he detected the
shadow of a sneer upon any one's countenance. "I honor her as I do the
queen of heaven. Neither of their names ought to be spoken here."

"Well said! Le Gardeur," exclaimed the Intendant. "That's right,
shake hands, and be friends again. Blessed are quarrels that lead to
reconciliation and the washing out of feuds in wine. Take your seats,
gentlemen."

There was a general scramble back to the table. Bigot stood up in
renewed force.

"Valets!" cried he, "bring in now the largest cups! We will drink
a toast five fathoms deep, in water of life strong enough to melt
Cleopatra's pearls, and to a jollier dame than Egypt's queen. But
first we will make Le Gardeur de Repentigny free of the guild of noble
partners of the co