— 222 — 



Chapleau, one of our leading Cabinet Ministers, and a 

 brilliant young member of our Provincial Parliament, 

 M. Faucher de Saint-Maurice ; both had been sojourn- 

 ing in the gay capital of France a few weeks. We were 

 all introduced to the Due de Levi-Mirepoix, a wealthy 

 Paris banker, also a stirring figure in the political 

 world of the day ; the Duke was a descendant from the 

 chivalrous General de Levi, Montcalm's right arm in 

 the crushing campaign at Quebec, in 1759. 



Our cercle intime afforded ample scope for the con- 

 versational powers of our eloquent friend, Mr. Chapleau, 

 and for the ready repartee of Mr. Faucher de Saint- 

 Maurice. The bulk of the dialogue was borne by our 

 genial entertainer and the Duke. Both belonged to, 

 different schools in politics. The Duke was an ardent 

 republican, a pillar to the new regime, inaugurated at 

 the downfall of Napoleon III, whilst Mr. Marmier was . 

 a robust Ugitimiste et monarchiste, a steadfast friend 

 of the Church. It was refreshing to see with what zest 

 and freedom these bright, polished, elderly gentlemen, 

 discussed the burning questions of the day, the attitude 

 of the Church towards the State, the policy of Gam- 

 betta, then the hero of the hour in fickle Paris. It was 

 a feu roulant, or rather a fusillade de bons mots and 

 caustic replies, in which decorum guided the. shaft of 

 wit. 



When a Canadian topic was mooted, we Canadians 

 invariably put in our oars. Mr. Chapleau, as usual, 

 made some capital hits : M. Faucher de Saint-Maurice, 

 brought into play his wit and erudition. 



The talk, necessarily, with the Duke reverted to the 

 past — " How was Canada lost to France ? " — " and saved 

 by Chatham to Canadians " — I added. I was amazed at 

 the hazy notions the wealthy Paris banker entertained 

 of the career of his great ancestor, Brigadier General de 

 Levi, who to me had ever appeared as the most level- 

 headed warrior France ever sent to defend her long 



