"Mais, non."
"Who gave you the paper?"
"Who but the mademoiselle herself?"
"How did she happen to choose you?"
He protruded his chest.
"Who better could she select than Baptiste Meurier?" he replied. "North of the Lakes every one knows Baptiste Meurier—and I am not unknown to the Iroquois."
"But how did the mademoiselle hear of you, Baptiste?"
He shrugged his shoulders.
"Who can say? A beautiful young person says she has a mission of much importance and profit to be performed. I reply I will go anywhere for a price. I am told I have only to name it. And so I am here, monsieur."
"And what is your price?" I inquired, amused despite myself by the cool insolence of the scoundrel.