192 VILLEMARIE DE MONTREAL. [1640. 



the neighboring chateau of Meudon, which over- 

 looks the valley of the Seine, not far from St. 

 Cloud. Entering the gallery of the old castle, 

 he saw a priest approaching him. It was Olier. 

 Now we are told that neither of these men had 

 ever seen or heard of the other ; and yet, says the 

 pious historian, " impelled by a kind of inspiration, 

 they knew each other at once, even to the depths 

 of their hearts; saluted each other by name, as 

 we read of St. Paul, the Hermit, and St. Anthony, 

 and of St. Dominic and St. Francis ; and ran to 

 embrace each other, like two friends who had met 

 after a long separation." ^ 



" Monsieur," exclaimed Olier, " I know your 

 design, and I go to commend it to God at the 

 holy altar." 



And he went at once to say mass in the chapel. 

 Dauversiere received the communion at his hands ; 

 and then they walked for three hours in the park, 

 discussing their plans. They were of one mind, 

 in respect both to objects and means ; and when 

 they parted, Olier gave Dauversiere a hundred 

 louis, saying, " This is to begin the work of God." 



They proposed to found at Montreal three relig- 

 ious communities, — three being the mystic number, 

 — one of secular priests to direct the colonists and 

 convert the Indians, one of nuns to nurse the sick, 

 and one of nuns to teach the Faith to the children, 

 white and red. To borrow theh own -phrases, 

 they would plant the banner of Christ in an abode 

 of desolation and a haunt of demons ; and to this 



1 Ibid., La Colonie Franqaise, I. 390. 



