Laborde they were years of remorse.
Hoping to get rid of his misery, he married. A daughter was born to
him. It was of no use. His wife died. His daughter was sent to a
convent to be educated. He himself was a lonely, aimless man. What
was worse, he was always under the power of Cazeneau, who never would
let go his hold. This Cazeneau squandered the plunder of the
Montresors upon his own vices, and soon became as poor as he was
originally. After this he lived upon Laborde. His knowledge of
Laborde's remorse gave him a power over him which his unhappy victim
could not resist. The false information which Laborde had sworn to
against the Count de Montresor was perjury; and Cazeneau, the very
man who had suggested it, was always ready to threaten to denounce
him to Fleury.

"So time went on. Laborde grew older, and at last the one desire of
his life was to make amends before he died. At length Fleury died.
The new ministry were different. All of them detested Cazeneau. One
of them--Maurepas--was a friend to Laborde. To this Maurepas, Laborde
told his whole story, and Maurepas promised that he would do all in
his power to make amends. The greatest desire of Laborde was to
discover some one of the family. He had heard that the count and
countess were both dead, but that they had left an infant son. It was
this that brought him out here. He hoped to find that son, and
perhaps the count himself, for the proof of his death was not very
clear. He did, indeed, find that son, most wonderfully, too, and
without knowing it; for, as you yourself see, there cannot be a doubt
that you are that son.

"Now, Laborde kept all this a profound secret from Cazeneau, and
hoped, on leaving France, never to see him again. What, however, was
his amazement, on reaching the ship, to learn that Cazeneau also was
going! He had got the appointment to Louisbourg from Fleury before
his death, and the appointment had been confirmed by the new
ministry, for some reason or other. I believe that they will recall
him at once, and use his absence to effect his ruin. I believe
Cazeneau expects this, and is trying to strengthen his resources by
getting control of the Laborde estates. His object in marrying Mimi
is simply this. This was the chief dread of Laborde in dying, and
with his last words he entreated me to watch over his daughter.

"Cazeneau's enmity to you must be accounted for on the ground that he
discovered, somehow, your parentage. Mimi told m