"ST. DIZIER,
"LOUVIGNY DE MONTIGNY,
"LA CORNE, _fils_,"

and over thirty others.

In this paper Germain had secured the apparent attestation of his claims
by many of the principal younger _noblesse_ of the country. He made off
with it to St. Elphege, where he spent a week, drawing from his mother a
crowd of tales about the de Lerys and the LeGardeurs, which had been
gossiped around her when she was housekeeper to Governor de Beauharnois.
Then, under excuse of pressing business in France, he left St. Elphege
again.

CHAPTER XXXVII

ONCE MORE THE SWORD

The widow Langlois was surprised to see her lodger return so soon to
Quebec. He saw quickly that she was dying of curiosity, and concluded
that he and his affairs had been the subject of town gossip since his
departure. He therefore contrived to give her an occasion to talk to
him.

"There are certain malicious stories going about," she said to him
tentatively, "which I have been thinking very ungracious on the part of
our people."

"Ah, yes, Quebec is always the same little hole. Do these stories relate
to me?"

"I admit it with shame, Monsieur, and our Quebec, as you say, is a
little hole. Quebec people have nothing to talk about but the
strangers."

"What can they invent about _me_? Have I scandalised your house or
ill-conducted myself at the Castle? God's-death! you promise me
entertainment. It will make this dull village amusing to hear the
product of their gigantic imaginations. Begin, I entreat you."

"Some say you are not a Bodyguard, sir."

"Ha, that is news; I shall have to tell that to Lady Dorchester. These
good judges know so much more of the Court of France than she does. What
else?"

"It is alleged that you are no noble, your father being the Merchant of
St. Elphege."

"Yes? My father's parchment titles would answer that. I will take the
occasion later on to show them to you."

"And that you carried in France the name of the Marquis de Repentigny."

"Who is the author of these tales, if you know him?" he said with
dignity. "What source first spread them among the people, for such
things have always an instigator?"

"I would prefer not to tell, Monsieur."

However, by a little flattery he won the point. She told him how her
brother-in-law, the Merchant Langlois, of Mountain Hill, had heard at
his own shop, from Madame de Lery herself, that a letter had been
received from Paris relating the