The Pomp of the Lavilettes, Complete

Lavilette, the father of Magon Farcinelle, and Shangois, the notary. The marriage contract was before them. They had

ing tassels of corn. The land in question lay next a portion of Farcinelle's own farm, with a river frontage.

ilette. "You've got a mortgage on it,

uldn't put the land in the marri

is chin in his hand as he furtively eyed the two men. Farc

e foreclosure," said he. "Couldn'

the property couldn't be Monsieur Lavilette

I can tell you. Come, now, Lavilette, is it a bargain?" Shangois sat back in his chair, the fingers of both hands drumming on the table before him, his hea

d belongs to the you

" exclaimed

poor vaurien a chance

the interest in five

monsieur. That should meet the interest." Lavilet

age?" said Lavilette. "He never had a penny.

esterday," he said, "he had not been seen for

he table, and staring at the notary; for he was n

elle. "I'll bet he's got nothing more than what

ois's mouth, and he said, with a dry inflection, as

r at the wedding, and I'll have that farm of Vanne Castine's. What does he want of a farm? He's got a bear. Come, is it a bargain? A

d, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is his,"' said the notary

dame Lavilette had been thinking, howev

said. "You see it doesn't go away fr

r at last, "Sophie gets the ac

sked the notary. "The mortgage is for four hundr

my Israelites," added Shango

he was getting out some flour, dried fruit and preserves for the cook, who stood near as he loaded up her arms. He laughingly thrust a string of green peppers under her chin, and added a cou

r to the door. Closing it behind her, he shot the bolt and ran back to the windo

s that you? So, you know

onger had any particular claims to friendship. The last time he had heard Vanne's whistle was a night five years before, when they both joined a gang of river-drivers, and made a raid on some sham American speculators and surveyors and labourers, who were exploiting an oil-well on the property of the old seigneur. The two had come out

l right," answered Nicolas,

hands?" asked Castine, with

ts. "I'm not so glad to see you as all tha

the bear-leader we

ad a bear-eh? Pshaw! you shall see. I am nothing, eh? I am

of that," was the half-angry, half-amused

ive years ago?" was

d leap out; but beside Castine's face there appeared another, with glaring eyes, red tongue, white vicious

e beast looked at each other, and then Castine

our neck if ever I see you on this farm

u do that you will not have to wait for a British bullet to kill you. I

lette, excitedly; "what abo

s manner changing, and a look of cunning crossing his face. "You'v

got to do with the Revo

ette is the only patriot!

r fr

parishes. Bon'venture is the last-almost. The great

tore it open. It was a captain's commission for M. Nicolas La

y-eh? Captain Lavilette-eh?" There was covert malice in Castine's voice. "If the Eng

d epaulettes, and planning to get men, money and horses together-for this matter ha

rom the start; and I'd rather die fighting to get back the old citadel than live with

stine, with a furtive grin. "An' perhaps that Br

tte read the letter over again with gloating ey

said in a whisper.

he feet of

o sound; but, at the same time, the Hon. Mr. Fer

road. Lavilette leaned out of the window and mused.

rne will hang us to

d, and stru