The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1904-05-19
CHAPTER XXXIV.
THE REGENTS PROMISE.


umor, l know not how exact, that you
nee travelled in those regions"
Thus spake his grace Philippe, duke
Orleans, regent of France now, in
fleet, ruler of France. 1t was the au-
fence which had been arranged for
ohm Law, that opportunity for which
e had waited all his life. Before him
ow, as he stood in the great council
hamber, facing this man whose ambi-
ions ended where his own began-at
ne convivial board and at the gam
1g table-he saw the path which led
the success that he had craved so
)ng. He, Law of Laurtston, some
me adventurer and gambler, was now
laying his last and greatest game.
Your Grace" said he, there be
lany who might better than tell you
f that America"
There are many who should be
BILE, and many who do" replied the
egent. by the body Of the Lord! we
ct nothing but information regarding
hese provinces of New France, and
ach advice is worse than the one pre-
eding 1t. The gist of it all is that
ny lord governor and my very good
ntendant can never agree, save upon
ne point or so. They want more
honey, and they want more soldiers
h, yes. to bo sure they also want
1ore women, though we sent them out
ship load of choice beauties not
lore than a six-month ago. But tell
ne, Monsieur Las, is 1t indeed true
hat you have travelled in American"
For a short time"
Il have heard nothing regarding you
from the intendant at Quebec"
"Your grace was not at that time
airing for intendants. Twas many
ears ago, and | was not well known
t Quebec by my own name"
"Eh bien? Some adventure, then,
perhaps? A woman at the bottom Of
b. warrant"
"Your grace is right"
"'Twas like you, for a fellow of
,ood zest. May God bless all fair
lanes. And as to what you found in
hus following-or was it in fleeing
our Divinity"
Il found many things. For one,
hat this America is the greatest coun-
ry of the world. Neither England nor
france is to be compared with it,"
The regent fell back in his chair and
aughed heartily.
Monsieur. you are indeed, as I
nave ever found you, of most excellent
Wit. You please me enormously"
but, your grace, am entirely Sc
ious"
"Oh, come, spoil not so good Jest
by qualifying. | beseech You! En-
Gland or France, indeed-ah, Monsieur
Las. Monsieur Last"
Your own city of New Orleans, sire,
will lie at the gate of realm greater
than all France. Your grace will hand
to the young king, when he shall come
|of age, realm excellently worth the
Ownership of any king
You say rich. In what way?' asked
the regent. we have not had so much
|of returns after all. Look at Crozat?
Look at"
"Oh fie, Crozat Your grace, he
solved not the first problem of real
commerce. lie never dreamed the real
richness of America.
Philippe sat thoughtful, his finger
tips together. why have we not
heard of these things?" said he.
Because of men like Crozat, of men
Hike your governors and intendants at
Quebec. Because your grace, as you
know very well, of the same reason
which sent me-encc from Paris, and
kept me so long from laying before
you these very plans of which l now
would speak.
And that cause?"
''Maintenon.
"Oh, ah! lndeed-that is to say"
Louis would hear naught Of me, of
course. Maintenon took care that he
should find | was but hereto"
''As for myself" said Philippe the
regent, 'heretic or not hereto makes
but small figure. For us, it's most
question of how to keep the king in
the saddle and France underneath"
"Precisely, your grace"
Frankly. Monsieur Las, take 1t
fttcst now not so much to ponder over
new worlds as over how to keep in
touch with this old world yet awhile
France has danced though for years
she danced to the tune Of Louis clad
in black. Now France must pay for
the music. My faith, | like not the
look of things. The joyful France to-
day is a hideous thing. These people
Taught I had sooner see lion grin.
Now to govern those given us by provi
dence to govern" and the regent
smiled grimly at the ancient fiction,
ut is most meet that the governed
should produce somewhat of funds in
order that they may be governed"
yes, and the error has been in 60
ing too far" said Law. These peo-