"Well, as to that, monsieur, we generally do act on that principle out here. But Fleury was a wonderful old man."
"Yes; but he died too soon."
"Too soon! What, at the age of ninety?"
"O, well, I meant too soon for me. Had he died ten years ago, or had he lived two years longer, I should not have come out here."
"I did not know that it was a matter of regret to monsieur."
"Regret?" said Cazeneau, in a querulous tone—"regret? Monsieur, one does not leave a place like Versailles for a place like Louisbourg without regrets."
"True," said the other, who saw that it was a sore subject.
"With Fleury I had influence; but with the present company at Versailles, it is—well, different; and I am better here. Out of sight, out of mind. It was one of Fleury's last acts—this appointment. I solicited it, for certain reasons; chiefly because I saw that he could not last long. Well, they'll have enough to think of without calling me to mind; for, if I'm not mistaken, the Queen of Hungary will find occupation enough for them."
After some further conversation of this kind, Cazeneau returned to the subject of Mimi, asking particularly about her life in Louisbourg, and whether Claude had seen her often. The information which he received on this point seemed to give him satisfaction.
"Does this young man claim to be a Montresor?" asked the commandant, "or is he merely interesting himself in the affairs of that family by way of au intrigue?"