s death at
all, for it seems to me that there is much cruelty and hatred behind the
case against him. He seemed to me a gentleman of force and fearlessness,
and what he said had weight. Why was the gentleman not exchanged long
ago? He was here three years before he was tried on this charge. Ay,
there's the point. Other prisoners were exchanged--why not he? If the
gentleman is not given a decent death, after these years of captivity, I
swear I will not leave Kamaraska again to set foot in Quebec.'

"At that the Governor gravely said, 'These are matters for our Council,
dear Chevalier.' To this the Chevalier replied, 'I meant no reflection
on your Excellency, but you are good enough to let the opinions of
gentlemen not so wise as you weigh with you in your efforts to be
just; and I have ever held that one wise autocrat was worth a score of
juries.' There was an instant's pause, and then my father said quietly,
'If his Excellency had always councillors and colleagues like the
Chevalier de la Darante, his path would be easier, and Canada happier
and richer.' This settled the matter, for the Governor, looking at them
both for a moment, suddenly said, 'Gentlemen, you shall have your way,
and I thank you for your confidence.--If the ladies will pardon a sort
of council of state here!' he added. The Governor called a servant, and
ordered pen, ink, and paper; and there before us all he wrote an order
to Gabord, your jailer, to be delivered before midnight.

"He had begun to read it aloud to us, when the curtains of the
entrance-door parted, and Monsieur Doltaire stepped inside. The Governor
did not hear him, and monsieur stood for a moment listening. When the
reading was finished, he gave a dry little laugh, and came down to the
Governor, apologizing for his lateness, and bowing to the rest of us. He
did not look at me at all, but once he glanced keenly at my father, and
I felt sure that he had heard my father's words to the Governor.

"'Have the ladies been made councillors?' he asked lightly, and took
his seat, which was opposite to mine. 'Have they all conspired to give
a criminal one less episode in his life for which to blush?... May I not
join the conspiracy?' he added, glancing round, and lifting a glass
of wine. Not even yet had he looked at me. Then he waved his glass the
circuit of the table, and said, 'I drink to the councillors and applaud
the conspirators,' and as he raised his glass to his lips his eyes came
abru