going
to send an army to assist Austria. The queen, Maria Theresa, will now
be able to turn the scales against France. This means war, and the
declaration must follow soon. Well, poor old Fleury kept out of war
with England till he died. But that was Walpole's doing, perhaps.
They were wonderful friends; and perhaps it was just as well. But
this new ministry--this woman and her friends--they will make a
change for France; and I only hope, while they are reversing Fleury's
policy in some things, they'll do it in others.

"France," continued Pere Michel, in a gloomy tone, "France is rotten
to the core--all France, both at home and abroad. Why, even out here
the fatal system reigns. This commandant," he went on, dropping his
voice, "is as deeply implicated as any of them. He was appointed by a
court favorite; so was Cazeneau. He came out with the intention of
making his fortune, not for the sake of building up a French empire
in America.

"It's no use. France can't build up an empire here. The English will
get America. They come out as a people, and settle in the forest; but
we come out as officials, to make money out of our country. Already
the English are millions, and we are thousands. What chance is there
for us? Some day an English army will come and drive us out of Ile
Royale, and out of Canada, as they've already driven us out of
Acadie. Our own people are discouraged; and, though they love France,
yet they feel less oppressed under English rule. Can there be a worse
commentary on French rule than that?

"And you, my son," continued the priest, in a milder tone, but one
which was equally earnest, "don't think of going to France. You can
do nothing there. It would require the expenditure of a fortune in
bribery to get to the ears of those who surround the king; and then
there would be no hope of obtaining justice from them. All are
interested in letting things remain as they were. The wrong done was
committed years ago. The estates have passed into other hands, and
from one owner to another. The present holders are all-powerful at
court; and if you wore to go there, you would only wear out your
youth, and accomplish nothing."

CHAPTER XVIII.

LOUISBOURG.

There was a little _beau monde_ at Louisbourg, which, as might be
expected, was quite gay, since it was French. At the head stood, of
course; the commandant and his lady; then came the military officers
with their ladies, and the naval officers wit