say, Jean, that the Bourgeois Philibert will not give in like the other
merchants. He sets the Intendant at defiance, and continues to buy
and sell in his own comptoir as he has always done, in spite of the
Friponne."

"Yes, Babet! that is what they say. But I would rather he stood in his
own shoes than I in them if he is to fight this Intendant--who is a
Tartar, they say."

"Pshaw, Jean! you have less courage than a woman. All the women are on
the side of the good Bourgeois: he is an honest merchant--sells cheap,
and cheats nobody!" Babet looked down very complacently upon her new
gown, which had been purchased at a great bargain at the magazine of the
Bourgeois. She felt rather the more inclined to take this view of the
question inasmuch as Jean had grumbled, just a little--he would not do
more--at his wife's vanity in buying a gay dress of French fabric,
like a city dame, while all the women of the parish were wearing
homespun,--grogram, or linsey-woolsey,--whether at church or market.

Jean had not the heart to say another word to Babet about the French
gown. In truth, he thought she looked very pretty in it, better than
in grogram or in linsey-woolsey, although at double the cost. He only
winked knowingly at Babet, and went on to speaking of the Bourgeois.

"They say the King has long hands, but this Intendant has claws longer
than Satan. There will be trouble by and by at the Golden Dog--mark
that, Babet! It was only the other day the Intendant was conversing with
the Sieur Cadet as they crossed the ferry. They forgot me, or thought
I did not hear them; but I had my ears open, as I always have. I heard
something said, and I hope no harm, will come to the good Bourgeois,
that is all!"

"I don't know where Christian folk would deal if anything happened him,"
said Babet, reflectively. "We always get civility and good pennyworths
at the Golden Dog. Some of the lying cheats of the Friponne talked in my
hearing one day about his being a Huguenot. But how can that be, Jean,
when he gives the best weight and the longest measure of any merchant in
Quebec? Religion is a just yard wand, that is my belief, Jean!"

Jean rubbed his head with a perplexed air. "I do not know whether he
be a Huguenot, nor what a Huguenot is. The Cure one day said he was a
Jansenist on all fours, which I suppose is the same thing, Babet--and it
does not concern either you or me. But a merchant who is a gentleman
and kind to poor folk, and g