"What! not to establish a precedent?"
"No, Mr. Advocate," Germain said firmly; "a simple petition to obtain this order is what we want. We must have it, and quickly, and nothing more."
"Ah, then, this is what you want," said he. "I will draw it for you," and, sitting down, he wrote out a document as follows:—
"To the Honourable Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the District of Montreal:
"The petition of François Xavier LeCour de Lincy, Esquire, residing at St. Elphège, respectfully shews:—That when he contracted marriage with Mademoiselle Lanier, he knew not that he was of noble origin, having left Europe at a very early age with scarcely any knowledge of his family; that since then he has learned of his extraction and obtained his titles of noblesse which he now presents to your Honours in evidence.
"Wherefore may it please your Honours to grant an order upon Maître d'Aguilhe, Notary, of St. Elphège, to add to the minute of his contract of marriage the name and title of 'de Lincy, Esquire'; and you will do justice."
"Sign, sir, please."
François Xavier attached his signature.
"It will do," Rottot sighed; "but I should have preferred the precedent."
They crossed the road and entered the court-room.