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Why, the young M'sieu' Duvarney had him on his knees, the blade at his throat, and a sword flashed out from the dark they say it was the devil's and took him in the ribs and well-nigh killed him." "But what say you to Ma'm'selle Duvarney coming to him that day, and again yesterday with Gabord?" "Well, well, who knows, Bamboir?
We have both been blunderers, Voban, blunderers, he say; 'things have gone wrong with us. We have lost all. There is little time. 'Tell me one thing, he go on: 'Is Mademoiselle Duvarney safe do you know? I tell him yes, and he smile, and take from his pocket something, and lay it against his lips, and then put it back in his breast. "'You are not afraid to die, Voban? he ask. I answer no.
Now and then Doltaire spoke across to me, but somehow no word passed between Duvarney and myself. Suddenly, as if by magic I know it was preconcerted the talk turned on the events of the evening and on the defeat of the British. Then, too, as strangely I began to be myself again, amid a sense of my position grew upon me.
He smiled hatefully as he handed it to me, and said, "Some books which monsieur once lent Mademoiselle Duvarney poems, I believe. Mademoiselle found them yesterday, and desired me to fetch them to you; and I obliged her. I had the pleasure of glancing through the books before she rolled them up. She bade me say that monsieur might find them useful in his captivity.
This morning I said to Nanette, 'Why is't, all in one moment, you send me to the devil, and pray to meet me in Abraham's bosom too? What think you she answered me? Why, this, my Bamboir: 'Why is't Adam loved his wife and swore her down before the Lord also, all in one moment? Why Ma'm'selle Duvarney does this or that is not for muddy brains like ours. It is some whimsy.
The people swarmed into the choir and through the vestry. I saw Doltaire with Juste Duvarney spring swiftly to the side of Alixe, and, with her father, put her and Mademoiselle Lotbiniere into the pulpit, forming a ring round it, and preventing the crowd from trampling on them, as, suddenly gone mad, they swarmed past.
I knew that I should stake something if I said it was a letter for Mademoiselle Duvarney, but I knew also that if he was still the Governor's man in Bigot's pay he would understand the Seigneur's relations with the Governor. And a woman in the case with a soldier that would count for something. So I said it was for her.
Whom had I but her and Voban! and Voban was yet to be proved. The Seigneur Duvarney had paid all debts he may have owed me, and he now might, because of the injury to his son, leave me to my fate. On Gabord the soldier I could not count at all. There I was, as Doltaire had said, like a rat in a trap. But I would not let panic seize me.
Presently I heard the hoofs of many horses, and soon afterwards there entered the door, and way was made for him up the nave, the Marquis de Vaudreuil and his suite, with the Chevalier de la Darante, the Intendant, and to my indignation Juste Duvarney.
The insult was conspicuous, and trouble might have followed, but that Doltaire came between them, shifting the attack. "Prisoners, my dear Duvarney," said he, "are most delicate and exacting; they must be fed on wine and milk. It is an easy life, and hearts grow soft for them. As thus Indeed, it is most sad: so young and gallant; in speech, too, so confiding!
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