"Yes."
"And you thought it unwise?"
"They could not have done it without a leader. And I could not lead them. I had to come here."
He smote the table till the candles flared. "You were wrong. You were wrong. You could have gathered your forces and had the attack over in a week,—in less time. Then you could have brought your troops with you, and come to my aid. You were wrong."
I moved the candles out of danger. "I had to follow madame," I said mechanically. "She might have needed me."
Cadillac's teeth clicked. "Madame"—he began, but he swallowed the sentence, and rose and walked the floor. "Do you realize what you have done? Do you realize what you have done?" he boiled out at me. "This desertion may have cost you your hold with the western tribes."
"I realize that."
And then he cursed till the candles flared again. "It was the chance of a lifetime," he concluded.
Why does the audience always feel that they understand the situation better than the actor? I was willing enough to let Cadillac rage, but resentful of the time he was using.
"What happened when the Senecas came?" I demanded.