"Not at present, perhaps," replied Du Puys. "But one does not lose
forty thousand livres in a night, and that, I understand, is your
revenue."
"I lost them to-night," quietly.
"Forty thousand livres?" gasped the soldier. "You have lost a fortune,
then?" annoyed.
"Yes; and more than that, I have lost the source from which they came,
these forty thousand livres. I see that you are mystified. Perhaps
you will learn in the morning how I came to lose this fortune. Will
you accept my sword?"
"Monsieur," answered Du Puys, "you are in wine. Come to me in the
morning; you will have changed your mind."
"And if not?"
"Then I shall give you a place in the company. But, word of honor, I
do not understand . . ."
"It is not necessary that you should. The question is, is my past
record as a soldier sufficient?"
"Your courage is well known, Monsieur."
"That is all. Good night, Major. I shall sign your papers at nine
to-morrow."
Du Puys returned to his party. They asked questions mutely.
"Father," he said to Chaumonot, "here is a coil. Monsieur le Chevalier
du Cévennes, son of the Marquis de Périgny, wishes to sign for Quebec."
The Vicomte d'Halluys lifted his head from his arms. But none took
notice of him.
"What!" cried Brother Jacques. "That fop? . . . in Quebec?"
"It is as I have the honor of telling you," said Du Puys. "There is
something going on. We shall soon learn what it is."
The Vicomte d'Halluys rose and came over to the table. "Do I
understand you to say that the Chevalier is to sign for Quebec?" His
tone possessed a disagreeable quality. He was always insolent in the
presence of churchmen.
"Yes, Monsieur," said Du Puys. "You were with him to-night. Perhaps
you can explain the Chevalier's extraordinary conduct? He tells me
that he has lost forty thousand livres to-night."
"He has, indeed, lost them." The vicomte seemed far away in thought.
"Forty thousand livres?" murmured Brother Jacques. He also forgot
those around him. Forty thousand livres, and he had never called one
hundred his own!
"Monsieur," repeated the major, "can you account for the Chevalier's
strange behavior?"
"I can," said the vicomte, "but I refuse. There are looser tongues
than mine. I will say this: the Chevalier will never enter his
father's house again, either here, in Paris, or in Périgny. There is
hot blood in that family; it clashed to-night; that is all. Be good to
the Chevalier, Messieurs; let him go to Quebec, for he can not remain
in France."
"Has he committed a crime?" asked Du Puys anxiously.
"No, Major," carelessly, "but it seems that some one else has."
"And the Chevalier is shielding him?" asked Brother Jacques.
The vicomte gazed down at the young Jesuit, and smiled contemptuously.
"Is he shielding some one, you ask? I do not say so. But keep your
Jesuit ears open; you will hear something to-morrow." Noting with
satisfaction the color on Brother Jacques's cheeks, the vicomte turned
to Captain Bouchard. "I have determined to take a cabin to Quebec,
Monsieur. I have some land near Montreal which I wish to investigate."