"Admit her at once," said De Lauson. "Mademoiselle," when madame stood
before him, "am I to have the happiness of being of service to you?
Or, is it 'madame' instead of 'mademoiselle'?"
"I have promised to disclose my identity in time, your Excellency.
However, I shall not object to 'madame.' Monsieur, I am about to ask
you a question which I shall request not to be repeated."
The governor, looking at her with open admiration, recalled the days
when, as a student, he had conjured up in his own mind the faces of the
goddesses. This face represented neither Venus nor Pallas; rather the
lithe-limbed huntress who forswore marriage for the chase.
"And this question?" he inquired.
"What brought Monsieur le Chevalier du Cevennes, as he calls himself,
to Quebec?"
The governor's face became shaded with gravity, "I may not tell you
that. I did not know that you knew Monsieur le Comte. He will,
without doubt, return to France with Monsieur le Marquis, his father.
Nay, I shall tell you this: the Chevalier expected never to return to
France."
"Never to return to France?" vaguely.
"Yes, Madame; so I understood, him to say.
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