d man, with a bow and a
flourish. "I remember you very well, sir, for it is not so common to
meet men of quality in this country. I remember your father also, for
he served with me at Rocroy, though he was in the Foot, and I in the Red
Dragoons of Grissot. Your arms are a martlet in fess upon a field
azure, and now that I think of it, the second daughter of your
great-grand-father married the son of one of the La Noues of Andelys,
which is one of our cadet branches. Kinsman, you are welcome!"
He threw his arms suddenly round De Catinat and slapped him three times
on the back.

The young guardsman was only too delighted to find himself admitted to
such an intimacy.

"I will not intrude long upon your hospitality," said he. "We are
journeying down to Lake Champlain, and we hope in a day or two to be
ready to go on."

"A suite of rooms shall be laid at your disposal as long as you do me
the honour to remain here. _Peste!_ It is not every day that I can open
my gates to a man with good blood in his veins! Ah, sir, that is what I
feel most in my exile, for who is there with whom I can talk as equal to
equal? There is the governor, the intendant, perhaps, one or two
priests, three or four officers, but how many of the _noblesse_?
Scarcely one. They buy their titles over here as they buy their pelts,
and it is better to have a canoe-load of beaver skins than a pedigree
from Roland. But I forget my duties. You are weary and hungry, you and
your friends. Come up with me to the tapestried _salon_, and we shall
see if my stewards can find anything for your refreshment. You play
piquet, if I remember right? Ah, my skill is leaving me, and I should
be glad to try a hand with you."

The manor-house was high and strong, built of gray stone in a framework
of wood. The large iron-clamped door through which they entered was
pierced for musketry fire, and led into a succession of cellars and
store-houses in which the beets, carrots, potatoes, cabbages, cured
meat, dried eels, and other winter supplies were placed. A winding
stone staircase led them through a huge kitchen, flagged and lofty, from
which branched the rooms of the servants or retainers as the old
nobleman preferred to call them. Above this again was the principal
suite, centering in the dining-hall with its huge fireplace and rude
home-made furniture. Rich rugs formed of bear or deer-skin were
littered thickly over the brown-stained floor, and antlered