登陆注册
15459300000007

第7章 CHAPTER III(1)

A CHATELAINE OF NEW FRANCE.

The Governor was surprised and delighted to encounter Lady de Tilly and her fair niece, both of whom were well known to and highly esteemed by him. He and the gentlemen of his suite saluted them with profound respect, not unmingled with chivalrous admiration for noble, high-spirited women.

"My honored Lady de Tilly and Mademoiselle de Repentigny," said the Governor, hat in hand, "welcome to Quebec. It does not surprise, but it does delight me beyond measure to meet you here at the head of your loyal censitaires. But it is not the first time that the ladies of the House of Tilly have turned out to defend the King's forts against his enemies."

This he said in allusion to the gallant defence of a fort on the wild Iroquois frontier by a former lady of her house.

"My Lord Count," replied the lady, with quiet dignity, "'tis no special merit of the house of Tilly to be true to its ancient fame-- it could not be otherwise. But your thanks are at this time more due to these loyal habitans, who have so promptly obeyed your proclamation. It is the King's corvee to restore the walls of Quebec, and no Canadian may withhold his hand from it without disgrace."

"The Chevalier La Corne St. Luc will think us two poor women a weak accession to the garrison," added she, turning to the Chevalier and cordially offering her hand to the brave old officer, who had been the comrade in arms of her husband and the dearest friend of her family.

"Good blood never fails, my Lady," returned the Chevalier, warmly grasping her hand. "You out of place here? No! no! you are at home on the ramparts of Quebec, quite as much as in your own drawing-room at Tilly. The walls of Quebec without a Tilly and a Repentigny would be a bad omen indeed, worse than a year without a spring or a summer without roses. But where is my dear goddaughter Amelie?"

As he spoke the old soldier embraced Amelie and kissed her cheek with fatherly effusion. She was a prodigious favorite. "Welcome, Amelie!" said he, "the sight of you is like flowers in June. What a glorious time you have had, growing taller and prettier every day all the time I have been sleeping by camp-fires in the forests of Acadia! But you girls are all alike; why, I hardly knew my own pretty Agathe when I came home. The saucy minx almost kissed my eyes out--to dry the tears of joy in them, she said!"

Amelie blushed deeply at the praises bestowed upon her, yet felt glad to know that her godfather retained all his old affection.

"Where is Le Gardeur?" asked he, as she took his arm and walked a few paces apart from the throng.

Amelie colored deeply, and hesitated a moment. "I do not know, godfather! We have not seen Le Gardeur since our arrival." Then after a nervous silence she added, "I have been told that he is at Beaumanoir, hunting with His Excellency the Intendant."

La Corne, seeing her embarrassment, understood the reluctance of her avowal, and sympathized with it. An angry light flashed beneath his shaggy eyelashes, but he suppressed his thoughts. He could not help remarking, however, "With the Intendant at Beaumanoir! I could have wished Le Gardeur in better company! No good can come of his intimacy with Bigot; Amelie, you must wean him from it. He should have been in the city to receive you and the Lady de Tilly."

"So he doubtless would have been, had he known of our coming. We sent word, but he was away when our messenger reached the city."

Amelie felt half ashamed, for she was conscious that she was offering something unreal to extenuate the fault of her brother-- her hopes rather than her convictions.

"Well, well! goddaughter! we shall, at any rate, soon have the pleasure of seeing Le Gardeur. The Intendant himself has been summoned to attend a council of war today. Colonel Philibert left an hour ago for Beaumanoir."

Amelie gave a slight start at the name; she looked inquiringly, but did not yet ask the question that trembled on her lips.

"Thanks, godfather, for the good news of Le Gardeur's speedy return." Amelie talked on, her thoughts but little accompanying her words as she repeated to herself the name of Philibert. "Have you heard that the Intendant wishes to bestow an important and honorable post in the Palace upon Le Gardeur--my brother wrote to that effect?"

"An important and honorable post in the Palace?" The old soldier emphasized the word HONORABLE. "No, I had not heard of it,--never expect to hear of an honorable post in the company of Bigot, Cadet, Varin, De Pean, and the rest of the scoundrels of the Friponne!

Pardon me, dear, I do not class Le Gardeur among them, far from it, dear deluded boy! My best hope is that Colonel Philibert will find him and bring him clean and clear out of their clutches."

The question that had trembled on her lips came out now. For her life she could not have retained it longer.

"Who is Colonel Philibert, godfather?" asked she, surprise, curiosity, and a still deeper interest marking her voice, in spite of all she could do to appear indifferent.

"Colonel Philibert?" repeated La Corne. "Why, do not you know? Who but our young Pierre Philibert; you have not forgotten him, surely, Amelie? At any rate he has not forgotten you: in many a long night by our watch-fires in the forest has Colonel Philibert passed the hours talking of Tilly and the dear friends he left there. Your brother at any rate will gratefully remember Philibert when he sees him."

Amelie blushed a little as she replied somewhat shyly, "Yes, godfather, I remember Pierre Philibert very well,--with gratitude I remember him,--but I never heard him called Colonel Philibert before."

同类推荐
  • 笏山记

    笏山记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 歙州砚谱

    歙州砚谱

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 赏心乐事

    赏心乐事

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 相和歌辞·祠渔山神

    相和歌辞·祠渔山神

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 高启集

    高启集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 战斗吧少年

    战斗吧少年

    身具五行,掌控阴阳,主宰时空是为大道主,古往今来整个宇宙多少惊才艳艳之辈为此前仆后继,却无一人成功。时值一神秘强大邪恶之极的力量入侵宇宙,在这危急存亡的关头,一毫不起眼的人类少年悄然崛起......新建了个书友群,群号:3441649034
  • 早婚晚爱,亿万老公别赶我

    早婚晚爱,亿万老公别赶我

    第一次知道,原来很早以前就爱上了你。“媳妇,床已暖好趁热睡吧”白七夜一副小媳妇模样,可怜巴巴的看着远处正在购物的樊安安。“Shutup,再吵给我滚出去,你要睡觉你自己去睡,别喊我!”“媳妇,看见那个包包了吗,很适合你的气质,背着一定很好看。”“我说你眼光怎么那么差呢,也不知道当初我是怎么看上你的,估计当时一时瞎了眼吧。”付离雨撇着旁边正在的选包的白七夜无力的吐槽,悔不当初。“媳妇,你老大你说什么是什么。”
  • 盛世情:呆萌是态度

    盛世情:呆萌是态度

    她是叶氏集团的私生女,因为两个女人的死被迫寄人篱下12年。在一场绑架后,她终于下定决心要成为强者。于是在他的帮助下走上逆袭之路。当她真正变强时,他的一句表白却又让她成为了软萌的小兔子。
  • 腹黑丞相之至尊毒妃谁敢惹

    腹黑丞相之至尊毒妃谁敢惹

    前世,她是君凌双,亦是毒医梦影,却错负了人,错付了情,这一世,她发誓,绝不要在爱上任何一个男人,可为何这妖孽般的男人再次扰乱了她的心?————————她是暗夜家族的继承人,因考验而来到人间,无意中救了一个人,顺手拿走了他的玉佩,可为何他开始对她紧追不舍,大哥,玉佩都还你了,能不能饶了我我啊!他是一身红衣,血染天下,让人闻风丧胆的战王,一朝遭人陷害,身受重伤之时,却遇到了她,这女人不但非礼了他,还顺走了他的贴身玉佩,女人,你别想逃出我的手掌心!君凌双:邪陌离,我只要一生一世一双人,天涯海角,不离不弃,你可做得到?邪陌离:双儿,一世怎够,我要的是你每生每世,你敢和别人跑试试?
  • 云梦战纪

    云梦战纪

    神州迷地云梦泽,深藏于十万大山之中。入云梦泽生死难卜,传奇少年自云梦泽出世,书写传奇人生,纵横大陆,降魔除恶,悟天地之道。最终化解云梦泽千年之谜。从此世间再无云梦。
  • 校草你要小心哦

    校草你要小心哦

    父亲早早死去,林音花努力考上市里最好的大学,却不了被学院数一数二的男神看上,而自己也莫名地喜欢上了他,会在一起吗?
  • 死亡到来

    死亡到来

    每个人都会经历死亡,但没有人知道死亡之后会发生什么事情,当你打开这本书的时候。死亡悄悄来临!!!!!!
  • 八十年代致富手札

    八十年代致富手札

    那个男人带她逃离一场暴风雪,她就陪他顶着“个体户”的帽子,摆地摊,开小店,办公司,夫妻携手,在混乱的商海沉浮。他们从贫困潦倒到资产无数,从背井离乡到衣锦还乡,一路走向巅峰,赢得一片光辉灿烂人生!
  • 天宫红包群

    天宫红包群

    千里眼居然是个远视眼“老朽……咳咳,老了。眼睛也看不清楚了……诶,坐在这飞机上,看下面的人就好像蚂蚁一样。”“那个千里眼啊!飞机还莫有起飞,下面的那些就是蚂蚁。”“哦是吗?”“嗯是啊!”“………………………”更为奇葩的是……………那个不说了师父等着发红包呢。
  • 小丫头有种你别跑

    小丫头有种你别跑

    额,可怜的千梓苏本是一介米虫,小说界著名的大神级人物。却不想在与一个刚入小说圈的菜鸟对骂时,一个不小心打翻了电脑桌上的水,结果荣幸的被电死穿越了。谁也不知道,这场穿越只是场阴谋,她只不过是粒棋子罢了……