he first came from Vadrome Mountain."

The Seigneur smiled. "A wonderful tailor! How does he carry on business
without writing letters?"

"There was a large stock of everything left by Louis Trudel, and not long
ago a commercial traveller was here with everything."

"You think he has nothing to hide, then?"

"Have not we all something to hide--with or without shame?" she asked
simply.

"You have more sense than any woman in Chaudiere, Mademoiselle."

She shook her head, yet she raised her eyes gratefully to him.

"I put faith in what you say," he continued. "Now listen. My brother,
the Abbe, chaplain to the Archbishop, is coming here. He has heard of
'the infidel' of our parish. He is narrow and intolerant--the Abbe. He
is going to stir up trouble against the tailor. We are a peaceful people
here, and like to be left alone. We are going on very well as we are.
So I wanted to talk to Monsieur to-day. I must make up my own mind how
to act. The tailor-shop is the property of the Church. An infidel
occupies it, so it is said; the Abbe does not like that. I believe there
are other curious suspicions about Monsieur: that he is a robber, or
incendiary, or something of the sort. The Abbe may take a stand, and the
Cure's position will be difficult. What is more, my brother has friends
here, fanatics like himself. He has been writing to them. They are men
capable of doing unpleasant things--the Abbe certainly is. It is fair to