The time was drawing near when the Dominion Government must go to the polls, and in the most secluded cottage on the St.Lawrence, the virtues and defects of the administration were vital questions.

Voters knew as much of technical law-making as the average voter everywhere, but no more, and sometimes less.

Yet there was in the mind of the French-Canadian an intuition, which was as valuable as the deeper knowledge of a trained politician.
The two great parties in the Province were led by Frenchmen.

The English people, however, were chiefly identified with the party opposed to Barode Barouche, the Secretary of State.
As the agitation began in the late spring, Carnac became suddenly interested in everything political.
He realized what John Grier had said concerning politics--that, given other characteristics, the making of laws meant success or failure for every profession or trade, for every interest in the country.

He had known a few politicians; though he had never yet met the most dominant figure in the Province--Barode Barouche, who had a singular fascination for him.