r neighbors."

He held out the packet. The soldier in the capote had to step forward to
receive it, and D'Aulnay's eye fell upon the sandal advanced near the
torch.

"Come, this is not our Capuchin," he exclaimed grimly. "This man hath a
foot whiter than my own!"

The feeling that he was detected gave the soldier desperate boldness and
scorn of all further caution. He stood erect and lifted his face. Though
the folds of the cowl fell around it, the governor caught his
contemptuous eye.

"Wash thy heart as I have washed my feet, and it also will be white,
D'Aulnay de Charnisay!"

"There spoke the Capuchin," said D'Aulnay with a nod. His close face
allowed itself some pleasure in baiting a friar, and if he had suspected
Father Vincent of changed identity, his own men were not sure of his
suspicion the next instant.

"Our friar hath washed his feet," he observed insolently, pointing out
the evident fact. "Such penance and ablution he hath never before put
upon himself since he came to Acadia! I will set it down in my
dispatches to the king, for his majesty will take pleasure in such
news:--'Father Vincent de Paris, on this blessed Paques day of the year
1645, hath washed his feet.'"

The men laughed in a half ashamed way which apologized to the holy man
while it deferred to the master, and D'Aulnay dismissed his envoy with
seriousness. The two officers who had taken his orders lighted another
torch at the blaze in front of the tent, and led away the willing friar.
D'Aulnay watched them down the avenue of lodges, and when their figures
entered blurred space, watched the moving star which indicated their
progress. The officer who had brought Father Vincent to this conference,
also stood musing after them with unlaid suspicion.

"Close my tent," said D'Aulnay, rising, "and set the table within."

"My lord," spoke out the subordinate, "I did not tell you the men were
thrown into confusion around the Swiss."

"Well, monsieur?" responded D'Aulnay curtly, with an attentive eye.

"There was a stampede of the cattle loosened from the stable. Father
Vincent fell into the empty trench. They doubtless lost sight of him
until he came out again."

"Therefore, monsieur?"

"It seemed to me as your lordship said, that this man scarce had the
bearing of a friar, until, indeed, he spoke out in denunciation, and
then his voice sounded a deeper tone than I ever heard in it before."

"Why did you not tell me this directly?"