do so; so rose quietly
from her seat and placed her arms gently round Amelie when she finished
the psalm. She pressed her to her bosom, kissed her fondly, and without
a word, left her to find in music relief from her high-wrought feelings.
Her voice rose in sweeter and loftier harmonies to the pealing of the
organ as she sang to the end the joyful yet solemn psalm, in a version
made for Queen Mary of France and Scotland when life was good, hope all
brightness, and dark days as if they would never come.

CHAPTER XII. THE CASTLE OF ST. LOUIS.

The Count de la Galissoniere, with a number of officers of rank in full
uniform, was slowly pacing up and down the long gallery that fronted
the Castle of St. Louis, waiting for the Council of War to open;
for although the hour had struck, the Intendant, and many other high
officials of the Colony, had not yet arrived from Beaumanoir.

The Castle of St. Louis, a massive structure of stone, with square
flanking towers, rose loftily from the brink of the precipice,
overlooking the narrow, tortuous streets of the lower town. The steeple
of the old Church of Notre Dame des Victoires, with its gilded vane, lay
far beneath the feet of the observer as he leaned over the balustrade of
iron that guarded the gallery of the Chateau.

A hum of voices and dense sounds rose up from the market of Notre Dame
and from the quay where ships and bateaux were moored. The cries of
sailors, carters, and habitans in thick medley floated up the steep
cliffs, pleasant sounds to the ear of the worthy Governor, who liked
the honest noises of industry and labor better than all the music of the
Academy.

A few merchantmen which had run the blockade of the English cruisers lay
at anchor in the stream, where the broad river swept majestically round
the lofty cape. In the midst of them a newly-arrived King's ship, the
Fleur-de-Lis, decorated with streamers, floated proudly, like a swan
among a flock of teal.

Le Gardeur, as an officer of the garrison, went to report himself to
the military commandant, while La Corne St. Luc and Colonel Philibert
proceeded to the gallery, where a crowd of officers were now assembled,
waiting for the Council.

The Governor at once called Philibert aside, and took his arm.
"Philibert," said he, "I trust you had no difficulty in finding the
Intendant?"

"No difficulty whatever, your Excellency. I discovered the Intendant and
his friends by ear long before I got sight o