But Dame Bedard
settled all surmises by turning to Master Pothier, who stood stiff
and upright as became a limb of the law. "Here is Master Pothier,
your Honor, who knows every highway and byway in ten seigniories.
He will guide your Honor to Beaumanoir."
"As easy as take a fee or enter a process, your Honor," remarked
Master Pothier, whose odd figure had several times drawn the
criticizing eye of Colonel Philibert.
"A fee! ah! you belong to the law, then, my good friend? I have
known many advocates--" but Philibert stopped; he was too good-
natured to finish his sentence.
"You never saw one like me, your Honor was going to say? True, you
never did. I am Master Pothier dit Robin, the poor travelling
notary, at your Honor's service, ready to draw you a bond, frame an
acte of convention matrimoniale, or write your last will and
testament, with any notary in New France. I can, moreover, guide
your Honor to Beaumanoir as easy as drink your health in a cup of
Cognac."
Philibert could not but smile at the travelling notary, and thinking
to himself, "too much Cognac at the end of that nose of yours, my
friend!" which, indeed, looked fiery as Bardolph's, with hardly a
spot for a fly to rest his foot upon without burning.
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