al crawled to his knees and staggered to his feet. "By God,
Monsieur! . . ." adjusting his collar.

"Not a word. How much did he pay you to act thus basely?"

"Pay me?"

"Answer!" taking a step forward.

"Ten livres," sullenly.

The Chevalier's hands opened and closed, convulsively. "Give me those
livres," he commanded.

"To you?" The corporal's jaw fell. "What do you . . . ?"

"Be quick about it, man, if you love your worthless life!"

There was no gainsaying the devil in the Chevalier's eyes.

Scowling blackly, the corporal emptied his pockets. Immediately the
Chevalier scooped up the coin in his hand.

"When did D'Herouville give these to you?"

"This afternoon."

"You lie, wretch!"

Both the corporal and the Chevalier turned. D'Herouville's form stood,
framed in the doorway.

"Leave the room!" pointing toward the door.

D'Herouville stepped aside, and the corporal slunk out.

The two men faced each other.

"He lies. If I have applied epithets to you, it has been done openly
and frankly. I have not touched you over some one's shoulder, as in
the De Leviston case. I entertain for you the greatest hatred. It
will be a pleasure some day to kill you."

The Chevalier looked at the coin in his hand, at D'Herouville, then
back at the coin.

"Believe me or not, Monsieur. I overheard what took place, and in
justice to myself I had to speak." D'Herouville touched his hat and
departed.

The Chevalier stood alone, staring with blurred eyes at the sinister
contents of his hand.

CHAPTER XXX

THE VICOMTE D'HALLUYS RECEIVES BROTHER JACQUES' ABSOLVO TE

The fort had four large compartments which consisted of a mess-room
already described, a living-room, general sleeping quarters for the
Jesuit Fathers, lay brothers and officers, and a large room for stores.
A roomy loft extended over the mess-room, to be resumed again over the
sleeping quarters, the living-room being situated between. Unknown to
the Iroquois, a carpenter's shop had been established in the loft for
the purpose of constructing some boats.

From the living-room there came to the Chevalier the murmur of voices,
sometimes a laugh. He was unaware of how much time passed. He was
conscious only of the voices, the occasional laugh, and the shining
pieces of silver in his hand. The perpendicular furrow above his nose
grew deeper and deeper, the line of his lips grew thinner and thinner,
and the muscles of his jaws became