"
Victor threw his hat into the air.
"And I, Monsieur Paul?" said Breton, trembling in his shoes, with
expectancy or fear.
"If they will let you go, lad," kindly; and Breton fell upon his knees
and kissed the Chevalier's hand.
The articles which made them soldiers, obedient first to the will of
the king and second to the will of the Company of the Hundred
Associates, were duly signed. Breton was permitted to accompany his
master with the understanding that he was to entail no extra expense.
Father Chaumonot was delighted; Brother Jacques was thoughtful; the
major was neutral and incurious. As yet no rumor stirred its ugly
head; the Chevalier's reasons for going were still a matter of
conjecture. None had the courage to approach the somber young man and
question him. The recruits and broken gentlemen had troubles of
sufficient strength to be unmindful of the interest in the Chevalier's.
The officers from Fort Louis bowed politely to the Chevalier, but came
not near enough to speak. Excessive delicacy, or embarrassment, or
whatever it was, the Chevalier appreciated it. As for the civilians
who had enjoyed the hospitality of the Hotel de Perigny, they remained
unobserved on the outskirts of the crowd.
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