"
Mademoiselle de Montpensier had mentioned in her memoirs, some years
before, that Frontenac, in taking out his handkerchief, dropped from
his pocket a love-letter to Mademoiselle de Mortemart, afterwards
Madame de Montespan, which was picked up by one of the attendants of
the princess. The king, on the other hand, was at one time attracted
by the charms of Madame de Frontenac, against whom, however, no
aspersion is cast.
The Comte de Grignan, son-in-law of Madame de Sevigne, was an
unsuccessful competitor with Frontenac for the government of Canada.
CHAPTER II.
1672-1675.
FRONTENAC AT QUEBEC.
ARRIVAL.--BRIGHT PROSPECTS.--THE THREE ESTATES OF NEW FRANCE.--SPEECH
OF THE GOVERNOR.--HIS INNOVATIONS.--ROYAL DISPLEASURE.--SIGNS OF
STORM.--FRONTENAC AND THE PRIESTS.--HIS ATTEMPTS TO CIVILIZE THE
INDIANS.--OPPOSITION.--COMPLAINTS AND HEART-BURNINGS.
Frontenac was fifty-two years old when he landed at Quebec. If time
had done little to cure his many faults, it had done nothing to weaken
the springs of his unconquerable vitality. In his ripe middle age, he
was as keen, fiery, and perversely headstrong as when he quarrelled
with Prefontaine in the hall at St. Fargeau.
Had nature disposed him to melancholy, there was much in his position
to awaken it.
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