Presently, when Père Breton was called from the room to minister to a Cree convert, Julie became serious.
"Jean Marcel, I have much to say to you; but it is hard—to begin."
"I should think you would have little to say to Jean Marcel."
"Why, because some half-breeds have brought a story to Whale River which was not true?"
"Well, enough of it is true, Julie, to make the Indians believe, when they hear it, that Jean Marcel killed his partners to save himself from starvation."
"Not if Père Breton and Monsieur Gillies have any influence with the Crees. They will not allow them to believe such a cruel falsehood," protested Julie, vehemently.
Marcel smiled indulgently at the girl's ignorance of Cree psychology.
"The harm is already done," he said. "One man is found stabbed; also the outfit of another gone. The third man comes back. No matter what M'sieu Gillies and Père Henri tell them they will believe the man guilty who got out alive."
"They will not believe these Lelacs, when they are shown to be liars," she insisted, stamping her foot impatiently.
"They have lied about the rifle and fur only, Julie. They are telling the truth when they say they found Antoine and some of Piquet's outfit. The rest does not matter except to make me a thief as well as murderer."