, Mr. Law?"

"Have back your own words!" he cried. "Nothing is enough but all! And as
God witnesseth in this hour, I have loved you with all my heart-beats,
with all my prayers. I call upon you now, in the name of that love I
know you once bore me--"

Upon the face of the Lady Catharine there blazed the red mark of the
shame of Knollys. Covering her face with her hands, she suddenly bent
forward, and from her lips there broke a sob of pain.

In a flash Law was at her side, kneeling, seeking to draw away her
fingers with hands that trembled as much as her own.

"Do not! Do not!" he cried. "I am not worth it! It shall be as you like.
Let me go away forever. This I can not endure!"

"Ah, John Law, John Law!" murmured Catharine Knollys, "why did you break
my heart!"

CHAPTER IV

THE REGENT'S PROMISE

"Tell me, then, Monsieur L'as, of this new America. I would fain have
some information at first hand. There was rumor, I know not how exact,
that you once traveled in those regions."

Thus spake his Grace Philippe, Duke of Orleans, regent of France, now,
in effect, ruler of France. It was the audience which had been arranged
for John Law, that opportunity for which he had waited all his life.
Before him now, as he stood in the great council chamber, facing this
man whose ambitions ended where his own began--at the convivial board
and at the gaming table--he saw the path which led to the success that
he had craved so long. He, Law of Lauriston, sometime adventurer and
gambler, was now playing his last and greatest game.

"Your Grace," said he, "there be many who might better than I tell you
of that America."

"There are many who should be able, and many who do," replied the
regent. "By the body of the Lord! we get nothing but information
regarding these provinces of New France, and each advice is worse than
the one preceding it. The gist of it all is that my Lord Governor and my
very good intendant can never agree, save upon one point or so. They
want more money, and they want more soldiers--ah, yes, to be sure, they
also want more women, though we sent them out a ship load of choice
beauties not more than a six-month ago. But tell me, Monsieur L'as, is
it indeed true that you have traveled in America?"

"For a short time."

"I have heard nothing regarding you from the intendant at Quebec."

"Your Grace was not at that time caring for intendants. 'Twas many years
ago, and I was not well known at Quebec