though, it is entirely owing to the loyalty of his mother
and sister that her position here has been possible."

"That is true; but I see as clearly, that her reception by them
was only possible through your answering for her. I owe you
everything."

"You owe me much," he said, quietly, as if to himself. And at the
simple words of self-abnegation my heart ached at the thought of
the pain I had involuntarily caused.

"I am sorry for any family that holds so black a sheep as Sarennes,"
I said, to break the awkward pause that followed.

"His family need know nothing, beyond that he died on the field of
battle, a much more desirable fate than he was likely to meet with
in France, had he lived; for, believe me, information has gone
forward that will insure the trial and, I trust, the punishment of
every peculator who has helped to ruin this miserable colony, no
matter which way the present crisis may turn."

"Now that we have confidence in each other, may I ask why you never
let me know of your presence in Canada?"

"To be frank, I had no desire to awaken old associations. So far
as I knew the past was a book that had been read and done with.
Nothing was to be gained by reopening it under the same conditions,
and I had no reason to suppose they could be altered. Remember it
is only now my eyes have been opened, and I see the error of my
warped and ignorant judgment. We have travelled a long road,
Chevalier, to meet in friendship, and I am glad we can so meet at
last. I always regret when my feeling towards an honourable man
cannot go beyond mere liking."

"Gaston," I cried, "I never received so handsome a compliment in
all my life!"

CHAPTER XXVIII

I MAKE A FALSE MOVE

I can make no pretence to marshal the train of thought that swept
through my brain when the priest took his way and left me to myself.
Engrossed as I was with my own affairs, I could not but speculate
on the curious chance that had driven him into a life of renunciation
and me to one of exile at the same time and for the same cause,
and that now brought us together before the woman we both loved.
I use the word advisedly and without any reflection on his integrity;
but it would be an insult to my intelligence could I look on his
face, worn by suffering and emotion, and mark the tone of his voice,
and, most confirmatory of all, the jealous care with which he
avoided any mention of her name, and not acknowledge the presence
there of the ge