On the night before the poll
he could declare the thing, not easy to be forgiven by the French-
Canadian public, which has a strong sense of domestic duty. Carnac Grier
was a Protestant, and that was bad, and if there was added an offence
against domestic morality, he would be beaten at the polls as sure as the
river ran. He had seen Luzanne several times, and though he did not
believe in her, he knew the marriage certificate was real. He had no
credence in Carnac's lack of honour, yet it was strange he had not fought
his wife, if his case was a good one.
Day by day he had felt Carnac's power growing, and he feared his triumph
unless some sensation stopped it. Well, he had at hand the sufficient
sensation. He would produce both the certificate of marriage and the
French girl who was the legal wife of Carnac Grier. That Luzanne was
French helped greatly, for it would be used by Carnac's foes as an insult
to French Canada, and his pulses throbbed as he thought of the possible
turmoil in the constituency.
Fortunately the girl was handsome, had ability, and spoke English with a
French accent, and she was powerful for his purposes. He was out to
prevent his own son from driving himself into private life, and he would
lose no trick in the game, if he could help it.
Sentimental feeling--yes, he had it, but it did not prevent him from
saving his own skin.
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