Cadet was
privileged to say anything, and he never stinted his speech. "Confess,
your Excellency! she is splay-footed as St. Pedauque of Dijon! She dare
not trip over our carpet for fear of showing her big feet!"

Cadet's coarse remark excited the mirth of the Intendant. The influences
of the great hall were more powerful than those of the secret chamber.
He replied curtly, however,--"I have excused the lady from coming,
Cadet. She is ill, or she does not please to come, or she has a private
fancy of her own to nurse--any reason is enough to excuse a lady, or for
a gentleman to cease pressing her."

"Dear me!" muttered Cadet, "the wind blows fresh from a new quarter!
It is easterly, and betokens a storm!" and with drunken gravity he
commenced singing a hunting refrain of Louis XIV.:

"'Sitot qu'il voit sa Chienne
Il quitte tout pour elle."'

Bigot burst out into immoderate laughter. "Cadet," said he, "you are,
when drunk, the greatest ruffian in Christendom, and the biggest knave
when sober. Let the lady sleep in peace, while we drink ourselves blind
in her honor. Bring in brandy, valets, and we will not look for day
until midnight booms on the old clock of the Chateau."

The loud knocking of Philibert in the great hall reverberated again and
again through the house. Bigot bade the valets go see who disturbed the
Chateau in that bold style.

"Let no one in!" added he "'tis against the rule to open the doors when
the Grand Company are met for business! Take whips, valets, and scourge
the insolent beggars away. Some miserable habitans, I warrant, whining
for the loss of their eggs and bacon taken by the King's purveyors!"

A servant returned with a card on a silver salver. "An officer in
uniform waits to see your Excellency: he brings orders from the
Governor," said he to the Intendant.

Bigot looked at the card with knitted brows; fire sparkled in his eyes
as he read the name.

"Colonel Philibert!" exclaimed he, "Aide-de-Camp of the Governor! What
the fiend brings HIM at such a time? Do you hear?" continued he, turning
to Varin. "It is your friend from Louisbourg, who was going to put you
in irons, and send you to France for trial when the mutinous garrison
threatened to surrender the place if we did not pay them."

Varin was not so intoxicated but the name of Philibert roused his anger.
He set his cup down with a bang upon the table. "I will not taste a
drop more till he is gone," said he; "