Never have I felt more helpless, more utterly alone. I knew all he meant, but my mind grasped no way of escape. His face leered at me as through a mist, yet as I glanced aside at Cassion it only brought home to me a more complete dejection. The man was glad--glad! He had no conscience, no shame. To appeal to him would be waste of breath--a deeper humiliation. Suddenly I felt cold, hard, reckless; ay! they had the power to force me through the unholy ceremony. I was only a helpless girl; but beyond that I would laugh at them; and Cassion--if he dared-- The door opened, and a lean priest in long black robe entered noiselessly, bending his shaven head to La Barre, as his crafty eyes swiftly swept our faces. "Monsieur desired my presence?" "Yes, Père le Guard, a mission of happiness. There are two here to be joined in matrimony by bonds of Holy Church. We but wait the coming of the lady's guardian." The _père_ must have interpreted the expression of my face. "'Tis regular, Monsieur?" he asked. "By order of the King," returned La Barre sternly. "Beyond that it is not necessary that you inquire. Ah! Monsieur Chevet! they found you then? I have a pleasant surprise for you. 'Tis hereby ordered that you accompany Commissaire Cassion to the Illinois country as interpreter, to be paid from my private fund." Chevet stared into the Governor's dark face, scarce able to comprehend, his brain dazed from heavy drinking. "The Illinois country! I--Hugo Chevet? 'Tis some joke, Monsieur." "None at all, as you will discover presently, my man. I do not jest on the King's service." "But my land, Monsieur; my niece?" La Barre permitted himself a laugh. "Bah! let the land lie fallow; 'twill cost little while you draw a wage, and as for Mademoiselle, 'tis that you may accompany her I make choice. Stand back; you have your orders, and now I'll show you good reason." He stood up, and placed his hand on Cassion's arm. "Now my dear, Francois, if you will join the lady." CHAPTER VI THE WIFE OF FRANCOIS CASSION It is vague, all that transpired. I knew then, and recall now, much of the scene yet it returns to memory more in a passing picture than an actual reality in which I was an actor. But one clear impression dominated my brain--my helplessness to resist the command of La Barre. His word was law in the colony, and from it there was no appeal, save to the King. Through swimming mist I saw his face, stern, dark, threatening, and then glimpsed Cassion approaching me, a smile curling his thin lips. I shrank back from him, yet arose to my feet, trembling so that I clung to the chair to keep erect. "Do not touch me, Monsieur," I said, in a voice which scarcely sounded like my own. Cassion stood still, the smile of triumph leaving his face. La Barre turned, his eyes cold and hard. "What is this, Mademoiselle? You would dare disobey me?" I caught my breath, gripping the chair with both hands.