The people of New France, taught by a hundred years of almost
constant warfare with the English and with the savage nations on
their frontiers, saw as clearly as the Governor that the key of
French dominion hung inside the walls of Quebec, and that for an
enemy to grasp it was to lose all they valued as subjects of the
Crown of France.
CHAPTER II.
THE WALLS OF QUEBEC.
Count de la Galissoniere, accompanied by his distinguished
attendants, proceeded again on their round of inspection. They were
everywhere saluted with heads uncovered, and welcomed by hearty
greetings. The people of New France had lost none of the natural
politeness and ease of their ancestors, and, as every gentleman of
the Governor's suite was at once recognized, a conversation,
friendly even to familiarity, ensued between them and the citizens
and habitans, who worked as if they were building their very souls
into the walls of the old city.
"Good morning, Sieur de St. Denis!" gaily exclaimed the Governor to
a tall, courtly gentleman, who was super-intending the labor of a
body of his censitaires from Beauport.
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