“Detain you and your shallop for the services of my master, the King of England, soon to be the master of your master, if the signs are right.”
“All signs fail with the blind, monsieur.”
“I will give you good reading of those signs in due course,” retorted I.
“Monsieur,” he added, with great, almost too great dignity, “I am of the family of the Duc de Mirepoix. The whole Kamaraska Isles are mine, and the best gentlemen in this province do me vassalage. I make war on none, I have stepped aside from all affairs of state, I am a simple gentleman. I have been a great way down this river, at large expense and toil, to purchase wheat, for all the corn of these counties goes to Quebec to store the King’s magazine, the adored La Friponne. I know not your purposes, but I trust you will not push your advantage”—he waved towards our muskets—“against a private gentleman.”
“You forget, Chevalier,” said I, “that you gave verdict for my death.”
“Upon the evidence,” he replied. “And I have no doubt you deserve hanging a thousand times.”
I almost loved him for his boldness. I remembered also that he had no wish to be one of my judges, and that he spoke for me in the presence of the Governor. But he was not the man to make a point of that.
“Chevalier,” said I, “I have been foully used in yonder town; by the fortune of war you shall help me to compensation. We have come a long, hard journey; we are all much overworked; we need rest, a better boat, and good sailors. You and your men, Chevalier, shall row us to Louisburg. When we are attacked, you shall be in the van; when we are at peace, you shall industriously serve under King George’s flag. Now will you give up your men, and join me at breakfast?”
For a moment the excellent gentleman was mute, and my heart almost fell before his venerable white hair and his proud bearing; but something a little overdone in his pride, a little ludicrous in the situation, set me smiling; there came back on me the remembrance of all I had suffered, and I let no sentiment stand between me and my purposes.
“I am the Chevalier de la—” he began.