Valmond calmly met Monsieur Garon's pained look, and courteously whispered his name.
"Your Excellency has been basely treated," said the avocat, his lip trembling.
"On the contrary, well, dear monsieur," answered the ruined adventurer.
"Destiny plays us all.

Think: I die the death of a soldier, and my crusade was a soldier's vision of conquest.

I have paid the price.

I have--" He did not finish the sentence, but lay lost in thought.

At last he spoke in a low tone to the avocat, who quickly began writing at his dictation.
The chief clause of the record was a legacy of ten thousand francs to "my faithful Minister and constant friend, Monsieur Parpon;" another of ten thousand to Madame Joan Degardy, "whose skill and care of me merits more than I can requite;" twenty thousand to "the Church of St.Nazaire of the parish of Pontiac," five thousand to "the beloved Monsieur Fabre, cure of the same parish, to whose good and charitable heart I come for my last comforts;" twenty thousand to "Mademoiselle Madelinette Lajeunesse, that she may learn singing under the best masters in Paris." To Madame Chalice he left all his personal effects, ornaments, and relics, save a certain decoration given the old sergeant, and a ring once worn by the Emperor Napoleon.