"
"Nor so lovable!" he whispered.
"What did you say then?" she asked.
"Nothing. I will do what I can to aid you to avoid those you dislike."
And how, with madame here, to keep these three men from killing each
other? He would that morning speak to Du Puys. The soldier might find
a way.
"Victor, what has Monsieur le Chevalier done that he comes to this
land?"
"He and his father had a difference of opinion; that is all I can say."
"But here, in this wilderness! Why not back to Paris, where Mazarin
restored him to favor?"
"Who can explain?"
The day wore on. Madame was very successful in her manoeuvers to keep
out of the way of her persecutors, as she had now come to call them.
They saw her only at the evening meal, seated at a table some distance
from the regular mess; and the presence of the Father Superior kept
them from approaching.
It was a brave meal; the Frenchmen noisy and hungry, the priests
austere and quiet, the Indian converts solemnly impressed by their new
dignity. When the meal was over and the women had repaired to their
cabin for the night. Major du Puys signified that he desired to speak
in private to Messieurs d'Herouville, d'Halluys, and du Cevennes; and
they wonderingly followed him into the inclosure.
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