+-------------------------+ | PAPERS | | | | RELATIVE TO LECOUR, | | RÉPENTIGNY, DE LINCY, | | | | ET CETERA. | +-------------------------+
There was, he considered, a fine turn of irony in "_et cetera_."
The record-cover completed, he surveyed it front and back with satisfaction, tried the ties, read the inscription over once more, and opened it. In it he placed a long "_Extract from my journal_," written with care in his beautiful handwriting and bound with a tiny ribbon.
Next, he added some letters of Collinot to himself and de Léry. These were followed by copies of his own to the latter. His epistle of reproach to de Bailleul came next. Then a genealogical memorandum of the family of LeGardeur. Then Madame de Léry's letter from Canada; after it a solemn statement which he had caused to be drawn by Quartermaster Villerai of Châlons. Then the folded paper left by Jude, which was a copy of the damaging entry discovered by him in the books of the church of St. Germain-des-Prés. Some lesser documents added to these made up the nucleus of a _dossier_ or Record--an armoury of weapons which were to be gathered for the complete and final destruction of the usurper, should he again set foot in France.
Only a day or two passed when another letter came to him from Madame de Léry. It related the actions of Germain on his second visit to Quebec, dwelling, with the rage of a proud woman, on what had passed between her husband and the young man. Judge Panet, too, had joined his efforts to hers, and rapidly tracked Germain's intrigues from Notary d'Aguilhe to the Judge and the young gentlemen of Montreal, and from the Governor at Quebec to the sacristy of the cathedral. He therefore was able to enclose a packet of letters and affidavits arranged in order, and which included among others--
1. A long foolscap statement by d'Aguilhe, in which the Notary of St. Elphège took care to duly magnify his own dignity and precautions.
2. A copy of the Lecour petition to insert the titles into the contract of marriage.
3. A letter from Chief Justice Fraser about the granting of the petition.
4. A copy of the marriage contract of Lecour's parents showing the alterations.
5. A letter from Lord Dorchester on the duel arbitration, addressed to Madame de Léry, and sealed with his seal.