"That's a fact," exclaimed Chamilly, straining his eyes towards the figure; and the three looked at each other in astonishment. "Has he actually the enterprise to try me again? Or what can he want?" "I can answer you," the veracious Zotique undertook, "my eyes are good.--He is smiling fully a second hundred thousand." "That is courage after what I gave him for the first." "It is doubtless, then, glory:--say Member of the Council." "Did I ever tell you of the last time he came to me, and offered not only that Membership, but finally advanced to the Presidency of it. Imagine the recklessness of the Province's interests--A President of the Council at twenty-four years! More than that, if I wished for active glory, he would give either the local Premiership, or undertake to combine the French parties at Ottawa, and put me at their head, with a surety of being Premier of the whole country. And this again for a youth of twenty-four years!--He tried to flatter me that I was a Pitt or a Napoleon. And I answered, that no man guilty of such a compact could be either." "You will do it without him," replied Zotique, confidently. Chrysler looked closely at the approaching figure, growing larger and clearer. "Where is he Member for?" he asked. "Member for Hoang-ho _in partibus infidelium_," replied Zotique, sarcastically. Picault sauntered up with a smile of unfaltering genial sang-froid, bowed, removed his cigar, and addressed them. "Salut, my dear Haviland, salut Messieurs. Oh! my dear Genest, how goes it?" offering his hand, which Zotique took with a caricature of extravagant joy and imitation of the other's style: "My dear Small-pox--pardon me--my dear friend, I am charmed to meet again a man of so much sense and honor." "Ah yes, we have fought on many a field, but we respect each other 'Honneur au plus vaillant.' But why, my dear Haviland," turning, "why should the valiant oppose each other, and half of them lose at each battle? Is it not because they are divided? Union makes strength!" "Yes, it is because they are divided by impassable gulfs," said Chamilly, coldly. "Did you come to see me, Monsieur?" "My dear fellow, can't we have a little private conversation together? I am, of course, in the country to oppose your politics, but being in Dormilliere, I cannot forget our social acquaintanceship." "Do me the honor of saying here what you desire to say, Monsieur. I have no political secrets from these friends." "Pardon me, what I have to tell you, is strictly private." "If it is in political matters, I do not wish it to be so." "It is personal, I assure you." "Then you will humor me, sir, by writing it." "My friend, do not let party differences put grimaces at each other on our real faces:--I would say rather party names; for I am in reality as much a Red as yourself. If you were willing we would prove that to you by changing the title, of our side to yours."