.

"Madame," said one of them, bowing, "I am Monsieur de Montcalm,
and, believe me, my best endeavours are entirely at your service.
We have heard something of your adventure from our good Maitre
Gabriel here."

"Monsieur le marquis, it is to your friend le pere Jean we owe our
safety, and he has added to my obligation by commending me to your
care in this letter," said, handing him the precious billet.

"Any lady in your position, madame, would command my service of
right, but such a recommendation makes it obligatory; there is
little I would not do to please my friend le pere Jean."

[Illustration: "There is little I would not do to please
le pere Jean."]

As he glanced over the note, I had opportunity to observe him more
closely. I had often heard of him from Gaston in the old days, for
they had been friends from boyhood, and had done much campaigning
together in Germany and elsewhere. He looked worn, like a man who
had grown old before his time, but I could trace the likeness to
the warm-hearted, hot-headed young officer whom I had so often
pictured, in his large eyes, which had lost nothing of their youthful
fire, and in his smile, which had the charm that does not disappear
with years.

"Madame de St. Just," he said, when he had finished reading, "I
can spare you the necessity of even asking my help, and must not
lay you under any obligation greater than this little voyage from
your boat to mine, to which you would not have been subject had I
known of your relation to my friend le pere Jean. He tells me your
intention was to have gone to Louisbourg. If that be still your
desire, madame, I can at least spare you the journey to Quebec,
and can promise you an easy passage to Louisbourg as soon as the
snow makes good travelling, for, in Canada, summer is no time for
a long journey across country. But let us be seated and talk this
matter over quietly," and he waved his hand towards the stern of
the yacht, where some of the officers hastened to arrange their
cloaks into comfortable seats.

My heart was in the strangest commotion as I saw the drift of
circumstance that was sweeping me onward, without effort on my
part, towards the end I most desired; I had not spoken, and here
was the arbiter of my fate putting into words all that I dared not
ask. I resolved not even to think, but to leave the issue in his
hands.

"Had you ever met le pere Jean before, madame?" he resumed.

"No, monsieur. How could I? But