1674.] abb£ fenelon. 33 



was the Abbe Salignac cle Fenelon, half-brother of 

 the celebrated author of Telemaque. He was a 

 zealous missionary, enthusiastic and impulsive, still 

 young, and more ardent than discreet. One of his 

 uncles had been the companion of Frontenac dur- 

 ing the Candian war, and hence the count's rela- 

 tions with the missionary had been very friendly. 

 Frontenac now wrote to Perrot, directing him to 

 come to Quebec and give account of his conduct ; 

 and he coupled this letter with another to Fenelon, 

 urging him to represent to the offending governor 

 the clanger of his position, and advise him to seek 

 an interview with his superior, by which the diffi- 

 culty might be amicably adjusted. Perrot, dread- 

 ing the displeasure of the king, soothed by the 

 moderate tone of Frontenac's letter, and moved 

 by the assurances of the enthusiastic abbe, who 

 was delighted to play the part of peace-maker, at 

 length resolved to follow his counsel. It was mid- 

 winter. Perrot and Fenelon set out together, 

 walked on snow-shoes a hundred and eighty miles 

 down the frozen St. Lawrence, and made their 

 appearance before the offended count. 



Frontenac, there can be little doubt, had never 

 intended that Perrot, once in his power, should re- 

 turn to Montreal as its governor ; but that, beyond 

 this, he meant harm to him, there is not the least 

 proof. Perrot, however, was as choleric and stub- 

 born as the count himself ; and his natural disposi- 

 tion had not been improved by several years of 

 petty autocracy at Montreal. Their interview was 

 brief, but stormy. When it ended, Perrot was a 



3 



