e quick by the astonished look of his friend. "I am Le Gardeur de
Repentigny! O dear friend, look and recognize me!"

Philibert stood transfixed with surprise and pain, as if an arrow had
stricken his eyes. "You! you Le Gardeur de Repentigny? It is impossible!
Le Gardeur never looked like you--much less, was ever found among people
like these!" The last words were rashly spoken, but fortunately not
heard amid the hubbub in the hall, or Philibert's life might have paid
the penalty from the excited guests.

"And yet it is true; Pierre, look at me again. I am no other than he
whom you drew out of the St. Lawrence, the only brother of Amelie!"

Philibert looked hard in the eyes of Le Gardeur, and doubted no longer.
He pressed his old friend to his heart, saying, in a voice full of
pathos,--

"O Le Gardeur! I recognize you now, but under what change of look and
place! Often have I forecast our meeting again, but it was in your
pure, virtuous home of Tilly, not in this place. What do you here, Le
Gardeur?"

"Forgive me, Pierre, for the shame of meeting me here." Le Gardeur stood
up like a new man in the glance of his friend; the shock seemed to have
sobered him at once. "'What do I do here?' say you, O dear friend!"
said he, glancing round the hall, "it is easier seen than told what I do
here. But by all the saints, I have finished here for to-day! You return
to the city at once, Pierre?"

"At once, Le Gardeur. The Governor awaits my return."

"Then I will return with you. My dear aunt and sister are in the city.
News of their arrival reached me here; my duty was to return at once,
but the Intendant's wine-cups were too potent for me--curse them, for
they have disgraced me in your eyes, Pierre, as well as my own!"

Philibert started at the information that Amelie was in the city.
"Amelie in the city?" repeated he, with glad surprise, "I did not expect
to be able to salute her and the noble Lady de Tilly so soon." His heart
bounded in secret at the prospect of again seeing this fair girl, who
had filled his thoughts for so many years and been the secret spring of
so much that was noble and manly in his character.

"Come, Le Gardeur, let us take leave of the Intendant, and return at
once to the city, but not in that plight!" added he, smiling, as Le
Gardeur, oblivious of all but the pleasure of accompanying him, grasped
his arm to leave the great hall. "Not in that garb, Le Gardeur! Bathe,
purify, and clean yourself;