When Valmond Came to Pontiac, Complete

dress had nothing of the bizarre on this occasion. He was in black-long coat, silk stockings, the collar of his waistcoat faced with white, his neckerchief white

and though, as a banker in New York, Monsieur Chalice had become an American of the Americans, at her request he had bought back from a kinsman the old place, unchanged, furniture and all. Bringing the antique plate, china, and bric-a-brac, made in France when Henri Quatre was king, she fared away to Quebec, set the rude mansion in order, and was happy for a whole summer, as was her husban

rmth or in menace. As Valmond entered the garden, Madame Chalice was leaning over the lower half of the entrance door, which opened latitudinally, and was hung on large iron hinges of quaint design, made by some seventeenth-century forgeron. Behind her deepened hospitably the spacio

ess was modern, her person had a rare touch of the archaic, and fitted into the picture like a

ftly into the salon, seated herself near the immense chimney, in a heavily carved chair, her feet lost in rich furs on the polished floor

ith the vagueness of one in a dream, she thought, and she neither understood nor relished his u

u," she said, motioning him to a seat; "a

er his costume with

and looked at her with an intent seriousness, which

sed, interested. Here was an unusual man, who ignored the conventional p

sm," she answered. "But I wi

see through things; that you can balan

Napoleon's letters

" she interrup

n sees farther than a man, and if she has judgmen

mpliment," she answered. "You a

t in flowered waistcoat, panama hat, and enamelled boots!-she should take this confidence as a compliment; if he were a barber, she could not resent it; she could not waste

ask you," he said, "what is the thing mo

ad a great idea

gerly, with youthfu

te he is!" she thought, remem

" he said in a troubled sort of way. H

"But-well, I suppose that the first requisite for success is absolute belief in the idea; that it be part of one's lif

he said. "The thing must

over the top of her coffee-cup at him. Somehow again the plebeian qu

of malice. Yet, now that she remembered, she had sweetly challenged one of a royal house for the like lapse into the vulgar tongue. A man should not be beheaded because of a what

re, and yet he made her serious and candid in spite of herself. He was of kin to her in some part of his nature. He did not concern her as a man of personal or social possibilities-merel

no pretender, his eyes did not falter. They

nd if he has it, what n

power of combination, strategy, and"-she paused, and a purely fe

t turning it to account cavalierly, as he might have done. He wa

e definition, leaving in the wo

faster than it did yesterday when the old sergeant faced him. Here was beauty-he admired that; power-he wished for that. What might he not accomplish,

" he said quietly, yet with

" was the negl

es

" insinuated the sof

lieved it was the truth. She stood looking

surprise. "Ah, yes, yes! I know-one of the people; suitable

Elise Malboir, whose littl

ver knew, or ever hoped to know," he said

, her small fingers tightening a gold hair-pin. "To Pa

start-fro

like the Great Master after Elba,"

mon

answered. "I have

the grotesqueness of the situation. But she s

e may go far. Sit down an

, now "General Lagroin," and Parpon hastening up the walk. Parpon ambled comfortab

gneur!" she said with a pretty

not wisdom. My General has scars from Auerstadt, Austerlitz, and Waterloo; my Minister is feared-in Pontiac. Was he not the trusted friend of the Grand Seigneur, as he was called here, the fath

king," she said prov

time and our lives will prove.... Madame, I

e perfect opportunity to thank her for th

she said, alluding to the imperial bees, and s

" he replied, and h

nd it amused her. She read in the old man's eye the soldier's contempt for women, together with his new-born reverence and love for Valmond. L

eral?" sai

they mock us in the streets

n a play; but Valmond, living up to his part, was grave and

you not he

d bowed. "Sire," the old man continued,

e mockery?" Valm

r. It was in the garden of the Tuileries, and twenty-four battalions of the Old Guard filed past our g

ill go down into the village-eh, monsieur?" he adde

these mockers," answered th

adame Chalice. "I know m

not here," she

nd, and bowed Lagroin

you accept a souvenir of him whom we b

all painting of Napoleon, on

inued. "You will find it well authe

a little faster. "This was do

ed. "Adieu, madame. Again I thank

? Are you really a Napoleon? I can be a constant ally, but, I charge you, speak the truth to me. Are you-" She stopped abruptly. "No, no; do not tell me," she added quickly. "If you are not

of I will give it," he said almost f

that enemy into a

ve no need of str

gestively. The droller

hall have five

head dubiously; but, glancing again at

and tell me about the mocke

r comedian, as she watched him go down the hill with Lagroin and Parpon.

snatches of, "Vive Napoleon!" For, in derision of yesterday's event, a small boy, tricked out with a paper cocked-hat and incongruous regimentals, with a hobby-horse between his legs, was marching up and down, preceded by another lad, who

otential purpose in the face of this yesterday's hero. The old serg

pproached

He took the hobby-horse, the drum, and the tin swords. "I will give you better things than these." He put the caps on the ground, added the toys to the heap, and Parpon, stooping, l

e shall have proof of my affection in due time. And now our good landlord's wine is free to you, for one goblet each. My children," he added, turning to

eon!" and he knew that he had regained his ground. Amid the pleasan

upon the fine sword at his side, given him that morning by Valmond; for, looking down, Lagroin s

e Seigneury, knocked, and was admitted to a room where w

great formality, "what may I do to serve you? W

d stern, and he vouchsafed no

er. He is of royal blood, and he may not fight you. But I, m

ghed. Without a word the old man stepped forward, and str

er and the acts of fools. I killed two Prussians once for saying that the Great Emperor's shirt stuck out below his waistcoat. You'll find me

d a restraining hand upon his arm, and Medallion said: "Dear S

d on Sunday, over the coffee, unb

im as Medallion had done. And because Valmond commanded the old sergeant to silence, the matter ended f