both sympathy and assistance from me."

Isidore was touched with the generous forbearance evinced by such a
gentle answer to his rather defiant speech.

"Sir," said he, "His Majesty has done me the honour to issue a _lettre
de cachet_ against me, and not for all the world would I place such a
friend as you have been in a false position, by asking at your hands
what, as the king's lieutenant here, you have scarcely a right to
accord to me."

"I accept the reason, and I honour you for it, de Beaujardin," said
Montcalm, grasping his hand. "I grieve to find you in such a position,
but I am happily not called upon to act on your information, of which,
indeed," he added with a smile, "I will choose to doubt the accuracy.
It is not for me to pry into your family affairs, but if you desire to
confide in me, I will assuredly counsel and help you to the best of my
power."

Isidore could not repel an offer of friendship so kindly and generously
made, and as briefly as possible he narrated the circumstances that had
led to his revisiting Canada. Montcalm listened to him attentively and
without interruption.

"You are certainly more sinned against than sinning," said he, when
Isidore had concluded, "and if you have in some respects acted hastily,
it has been from noble and generous impulses. I take a real interest
in the unfortunate young lady, whose father I well remember as a brave
and devoted soldier. To restore you to your former position, or even
to appoint you to a company, is plainly impossible at present, but I
can give you active employment of a kind which will keep you out of the
way of being recognised, and should an opportunity offer, I will not
forget you."

Isidore was about to express a warm acknowledgment of this kindly
assurance, but Montcalm interrupted him: "Wait until I have really done
something for you," said he. "And now listen to me. The campaign here
is virtually over. With the force at my command, I can do no more than
hold Abercromby in check, and prevent him from detaching any
considerable force beyond that sent away by him some time since under
Bradstreet for the reduction of Fort Frontenac, which has been only too
successfully accomplished. I have just heard that the place is taken
and the shipping on Lake Ontario captured or destroyed. What could de
Noyan do with a hundred and twenty men? The defence of the fort was
hopeless in the absence of reinforcements, the absolute necessity for