"A gentleman calling himself the Marquis de Lotbinière has just been here. Do you know him?"
Germain braced himself.
"I have heard of him in Canada," he said, "but his Marquisate is not believed in there."
"You Canadians have strange tales of each other. He is apparently a very respectable man, and supported his allegations about you—which are in substance the same as those made by Monsieur de Léry—by a certificate from the Genealogist that the family name of Répentigny is LeGardeur, not Lecour."
"Did he admit that he is an uncle of my adversary, de Léry, and has the natural malice against me of a relative of my antagonist?"
"I have made due allowance for his bias, Monsieur Lecour."
Germain's heart sank at the form of the name in which he was addressed.
"The difficulty," proceeded the Adjutant, "is in your papers; for, however the truth may stand as to your position, your proofs to the regiment were made under the title of Répentigny, a designation which you have abandoned. My position, as representing and protecting the regiment, therefore, is that I hold no proper proofs that you possess the generations of descent which you are aware are necessary. I now have the honour of calling upon you to produce such proofs."
"Very well, sir," answered Germain, and leaving the room, strode to his quarters and returned with the de Lincy copies.
Collinot scanned them carefully. Germain, waiting silently, noticed that on the whole he was not displeased.