active, saluted his superior gallantly. The latter
returned the action with a non-committal countenance.

"A gentleman calling himself the Marquis de Lotbiniere has just been
here. Do you know him?"

Germain braced himself.

"I have heard of him in Canada," he said, "but his Marquisate is not
believed in there."

"You Canadians have strange tales of each other. He is apparently a very
respectable man, and supported his allegations about you--which are in
substance the same as those made by Monsieur de Lery--by a certificate
from the Genealogist that the family name of Repentigny is LeGardeur,
not Lecour."

"Did he admit that he is an uncle of my adversary, de Lery, and has the
natural malice against me of a relative of my antagonist?"

"I have made due allowance for his bias, Monsieur Lecour."

Germain's heart sank at the form of the name in which he was addressed.

"The difficulty," proceeded the Adjutant, "is in your papers; for,
however the truth may stand as to your position, your proofs to the
regiment were made under the title of Repentigny, a designation which
you have abandoned. My position, as representing and protecting the
regiment, therefore, is that I hold no proper proofs that you possess
the generations of descent which you are aware are necessary. I now have
the honour of calling upon you to produce such proofs."

"Very well, sir," answered Germain, and leaving the room, strode to his
quarters and returned with the de Lincy copies.

Collinot scanned them carefully. Germain, waiting silently, noticed that
on the whole he was not displeased.

"Only the past two generations are lacking," he pronounced, "your
certificate of baptism and those of your father and mother, together
with their marriage contract. Why are they not supplied?"

"I have no doubt they can be. With your permission, I shall send at once
to Canada for them."

But Collinot was silent again, looking over the documents.

The story de Lotbiniere was likely to have told crossed Germain's mind,
and he went on--

"I have no doubt the enemies of my family mentioned every
disadvantageous fact. If it is that my father is in trade, let me say
yes--as the greatest merchant in his country and the equal of any one
there--and let me add that the decrees of our King always permitted
_noblesse_ in Canada to engage in commerce, from the circumstances of
the country, just as those of Brittany are permitted to enter the
commerce of the sea