It possessed him most strongly at the moment he was passing the home of Elise Malboir. The girl was standing by the gate, looking down towards the village. Her brow was a little heavy, so that it gave her eyes at all times a deep look, but now De la Riviere saw that they were brooding as well. There was sadness in the poise of the head. He did not take off his hat to her. “‘Oh, grand to the war he goes, O gai, rive le roi!’” he said teasingly. He thought she might have a lover among the recruits at Dalgrothe Mountain. She turned to him, startled, for she thought he meant Valmond. She did not speak, but became very still and pale. “Better tie him up with a garter, Elise, and get the old uncle back to Ville Bambord. Trouble’s coming. The game’ll soon be up.” “What trouble?” she asked. “Battle, murder, and sudden death,” he answered, and passed on with a sour laugh. She slowly repeated his words, looked towards the Manor House, with a strange expression, then went up to her little bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed for a long time, where she had sat with Valmond. Every word, every incident, of that night came back to her; and her heart filled up with worship. It flowed over into her eyes and fell upon her clasped hands. If trouble did come to him?--He had given her a new world, he should have her life and all else. A half-hour later, De la Riviere came rapping at the Cure’s door. The sun was almost gone, the smell of the hay-fields floated over the village, and all was quiet in the streets. Women gossiped in their doorways, but there was no stir anywhere. With the young Seigneur was the member of the Legislature for the county. His mood was different from that of his previous visit to Pontiac; for he had been told that whether the cavalier adventurer was or was not a Napoleon, this campaign was illegal. He had made no move. Being a member of the Legislature, he naturally shirked responsibility, and he had come to see the young Seigneur, who was justice of the peace, and practically mayor of the county. They found the Cure, the avocat, and Medallion, talking together amiably. The three were greatly distressed by the representations of the member and De la Riviere. The Cure turned to Monsieur Garon, the avocat, inquiringly. “The law--the law of the case is clear,” said the avocat helplessly. “If the peace is disturbed, if there is conspiracy to injure a country not at war with our own, if arms are borne with menace, if His Excellency--” “His Excellency--my faith!--You’re an ass, Garon!” cried the young Seigneur, with an angry sneer.