ring his despatches at Chambly, and reporting to the commandant
the particulars he had noted on his way thither, in conformity with
General Montcalm's directions, he was ordered to proceed to Quebec on
another service. This journey, although of about the same length as
the previous one, was a much more easy affair, and was performed by
water. Boulanger, however, who was now on his way home, still acted as
guide, and day by day won more and more upon Isidore by his readiness
and intelligence, and probably--though the young marquis might have
been unwilling to own it--by his honest frankness and his outspoken
dislike of everything mean and underhand. Even his remarks on passing
events were listened to with a forbearance which they would hardly have
met with from the Isidore de Beaujardin of a week ago.

In a few days Isidore and his guide reached Quebec, and there,
notwithstanding the little occasional skirmishes that had taken place
between them, they parted with regret, and with cordial expressions of
good-will. The young soldier had had opportunity enough to see and
appreciate the honest character of the Canadian, whilst the latter had
been still more struck with the condescension as well as by the courage
and endurance of the young noble, of whose high rank he was well aware,
and whose almost necessarily courteous manner, even to his inferiors,
formed a strong contrast to the overbearing and arbitrary behaviour of
the Government officials with whom he generally had to deal.

Isidore's first proceeding was to report himself and deliver his
despatches, on doing which he learned that although the intelligence of
the capture of Oswego had arrived, no details had as yet been received,
nor had his uncle, the Baron de Valricour, as yet reached Quebec. It
was consequently not without hesitation that he made his way to the
house of Madame de Rocheval, the lady with whom the daughter of Captain
Lacroix was staying.

Isidore had never seen Marguerite Lacroix, but he took it for granted
that it was she who, on his being shown into the drawing-room, rose
from her embroidery frame to receive him.

"I am sorry, monsieur," said she, "that Madame de Rocheval is not at
home. You have, doubtless, heard that news has been received of
General Montcalm's having captured Oswego. Madame de Rocheval has a
brother in one of the regiments about whom she is anxious, and my
father, Captain Lacroix, who is quartered at Montreal, has not