ht Acadia in less than twenty days. It will be colder then, for
huge icebergs come floating about in the water. We shall undoubtedly
reach Quebec by June. The captain says that it is all nonsense about
pirates. They never come so far north as this. I wonder if roses grow
in this new country? I shall miss the lattice-covered summer-house."

"There will be roses, Breton, but the thorns will be large and fierce.
A month and a half before we reach our destination! It is very long."

"You see, Monsieur, we sail up a river toward the inland seas. If we
might sail as we sail here, it would take but a dozen days to pass
Acadia. But they tell me that this river is a strange one. Many rocks
infest it, and islands grow up or disappear in a night."

The Chevalier fingered the quilt and said nothing. By and by his eyes
closed, and Breton, thinking his master had fallen asleep, again picked
up his book. But he could not concentrate his thought upon it. He was
continually flying over the sea to old Martin's daughter, to the grey
chateau nestling in the green hills. He was not destined long to
dream. There was a rap on the door, and Brother Jacques entered.

"My son," he said to Breton, "leave us."

CHAPTER XIII

TEN THOUSAND LIVRES IN A POCKET

The Chevalier, who had merely closed his eyes, opened them and looked
up inquiringly. "Breton," he said, "return in half an hour." Breton
laid aside his book and departed. "Now, my father and my brother,"
began the Chevalier lightly, "what is it you have to say to me the
importance of which necessitates the exclusion of my servant?"

"I wish to do you a service, Monsieur."

"That is kind of you. And what may this service be?"

"A simple warning."

"Ah!"

"The Comte d'Herouville has no love for you."

"Nor I for him." The Chevalier drew the coverlet to his chin and
stared through the square port-hole.

"When we land you will still be weak."

"Not so weak that I can not stand."

"All this means that you will fight him?"

"It does."

"A woman?"

"A woman, a vulgar jest and a glass of wine. Monsieur le Comte and
myself have been forbidden to meet under the pain of indefinite
imprisonment. Yonder it will be different."

"Mademoiselle de Longueville . . ."

"Has forgotten the incident, as I had, till D'Herouville came on board
in search of some woman. Monsieur de Saumaise played him a trick of
some kind, and I stepped between."

"Can you be di