, who was the special protectress of the Grand Company,--a goodly
share of whose profits in the monopoly of trade in New France was
thrown into the lap of the powerful favorite.
"Come, Varin! your turn now!" cried Bigot, turning to the Commissary;
"a toast for Ville Marie! Merry Montreal! where they eat like rats
of Poitou, and drink till they ring the fire-bells, as the Bordelais
did to welcome the collectors of the gabelle. The Montrealers have
not rung the fire-bells yet against you, Varin, but they will by and
by!"
Varin filled his cup with an unsteady hand until it ran over, and
propping his body against the table as he stood up, replied, "A
toast for Ville Marie! and our friends in need!--The blue caps of
the Richelieu!" This was in allusion to a recent ordinance of the
Intendant, authorizing him to seize all the corn in store at
Montreal and in the surrounding country--under pretence of supplying
the army, and really to secure the monopoly of it for the Grand
Company.
The toast was drunk, amid rapturous applause. "Well said, Varin!"
exclaimed Bigot; "that toast implied both business and pleasure: the
business was to sweep out the granges of the farmers; the pleasure
is to drink in honor of your success.
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