Prince?"

"No, mademoiselle, it was not."

"Who, then, arrested him?"

"M. de Vaudreuil, mademoiselle."

"And you? What did you do?"

"I stood there, mademoiselle, and saw that M. de Vaudreuil carried
out his instructions."

"His instructions? Who gave them

"I did, mademoiselle."

"What! To arrest the Prince?"

"Certainly, mademoiselle."

"And you think this was the part of 'a gentleman and a man of
honour?'"

"Certainly, mademoiselle. It was my duty."

I own that from the bottom of my heart I admired him. It was clear
what was coming, yet he never faltered, never wavered, nor made
any attempt at appeal or explanation. It was like the man. I envied
him his courage.

"Did you never think for one moment of me? Of my devotion to him
and his cause? Did not my regard, my affection even, weigh for one
moment with you?" she went on, excitedly.

"Marguerite, Marguerite! This is cruel! This is unjust! I worship
you as I have never worshipped woman, and at this moment you are
breaking my heart!"

"You have broken mine," she answered, coldly, and turning, walked
slowly out of the room.

He stood with his face like marble.

Then Lady Jane rose, and laying her hand on his shoulder, said:
"Gaston, I never thought more of you in my life, and the mother
who bore you may well be proud of such a son. Margaret is but a
child; when she thinks over what has happened, she will see matters
in their true light. Girls' hearts do not break so easily. My own
would have flown in pieces a thousand times if it had followed my
imaginations," she said, gayly; and then more tenderly, "Be patient
with her, Gaston; she is only a child."

But he shook his head sadly without reply.

"My dear Vicomte," I said, "I know you have cause to look on me
with no friendly eye; but believe me, I can echo every word my
cousin has spoken. I can only admire and hope for such courage
myself; and that I may prove the sincerity of my profession, I will
withdraw entirely from a scene where I am only a disturbance. I
have no thought, no hope of winning Margaret for myself. I will
volunteer for service in Canada at once, and at least shall not
have the regret of standing in the way of one I honour so highly."

To all of which he said little, but that little so direct and
feeling that we stepped out into the rue Dauphine together, more
nearly friends than we had ever been.

CHAPTER VIII

HOW I MAKE BOTH FRIENDS AND ENEMIES IN NEW FRANCE