Bigot felt the full meaning and significance of the words
that burned into his soul, and for which he hoped one day to be
revenged.
"Confusion to the whole litter of the Golden Dog, and that is the
party of the Honnetes Gens!" cried he. "But for that canting savant
who plays the Governor here, I would pull down the sign and hang its
master up in its stead to-morrow!"
The company now grew still more hilarious and noisy in their cups.
Few paid attention to what the Intendant was saying. But De
Repentigny heard him utter the words, "Oh, for men who dare do men's
deeds!" He caught the eye of De Repentigny, and added, "But we are
all cowards in the Grand Company, and are afraid of the Bourgeois."
The wine was bubbling in the brain of Le Gardeur. He scarcely knew
what the Intendant said, but he caught the last words.
"Whom do you call cowards, Chevalier? I have joined the Grand
Company. If the rest are cowards, I am not: I stand ready to pluck
the peruke off the head of any man in New France, and carry it on my
sword to the Place d' Armes, where I will challenge all the world to
come and take it!"
"Pish! that is nothing! give me man's work.
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