"This, madame," he said, handing me one of the letters, "is to Mme. de Sarennes; but with it I have taken care to enclose that of le pere Jean, for our good Canadians, as you will find, attach more value to the simple word of a priest--and in this instance I will not say they are wrong--than to the command of any lay authority. His letter will spare you all explanations with the mother, and this other will serve as an order for that gallant coureur de bois, her son, when he puts in an appearance, in the event of his visiting Beaulieu before I see him in Quebec. Let me assure you, further, that you have only to command my services, should you need them, either before or after you may reach Louisbourg. The Chevalier de Drucour, I am persuaded, will be only too ready to do me a service, should I ask it either on my behalf or on that of another. I shall esteem it, if you will consider yourself as under my protection." "But, monsieur, what claim have I to all this kindness?" I asked, overwhelmed at the possibilities I saw before me. "You are the friend of my friend; I would do anything for his sake," he answered, simply, disdaining any of those compliments which would so readily suggest themselves to a man of less nice breeding. "I am sorry we cannot offer you any fitting hospitality here," he said, as he rose. Then, turning towards the others, he added: "Gentlemen, I am apologising for our scanty larder, which prevents our detaining Mme. de St. Just for supper. M. de Bougainville, as a mathematician, might have seen to a less exact but more generous provision." "His head was among the stars," explained a jovial-looking officer, in a rueful tone, "and we less-exalted mortals are the losers, alas!" "But surely we have somewhat to drink to the success of madame's journey?" said M. de Montcalm, in mock alarm. "Assuredly, mon general! I at least was not star-gazing when I laid in the Bordeaux. I can even provide a glass of Frontignan for madame," responded a little bright-eyed officer. "Bravo, Joannes!" laughed the general. "Frontignan! That brings back the whole South, madame; its very name makes me homesick. Homesickness makes us all young, makes us all little children again. Ma foi! I believe that is why the Spaniard pretended the Fountain of Youth was to be found in the New World. I defy any one to remain here and not have perpetual youth, if my theory be correct." "But at least madame did not come to seek it," responded M. de Bougainville, gallantly, "and we are keeping her standing."