"The worldly reparation quite satisfies me," replied the marquis,
fumbling with his lips. "As I observed, sentiment is out of the
question. Monsieur le Comte would not let me love him if I would,"
lightly. "I wish to undo as much as possible the evil I have done. If
he refuses to return to France, that is his affair, not mine. I shall
be the last to urge him. This Monsieur de Saumaise is a poet, I
understand."

"Who writes equally well with his sword."

"I should like to meet him. How long before De Leviston and
D'Hérouville will be out of hospital?"

"D'Hérouville, any day; De Leviston has a bad fever, having taken cold."

The marquis had not acquired the habit of smoking, so the governor lit
his pipe and smoked alone.

"Your Excellency, who is this handsome young priest who goes by the
name of Brother Jacques; of what family?"

"That I do not know; no one knows; not even Father Chaumonot, who is
his sponsor. The good Father picked him up somewhere in Italy and
placed him in a convent."

"Monsieur le Comte, then, is at Three Rivers?"

"Yes; and to-morrow we shall set out for him; though he may return at
any hour."