"Have I spoken too much?"
"You have spoken the truth!" roared the officer, stamping his foot violently, and then muttered in English:
"Just what I said at the time. This old Frenchman has told the truth in all its naked harshness."
The officer was Major Meigs, one of those who had most strenuously disapproved of the despatch of the flag of truce, and whose opinion of the event is recorded in history.
He thanked Batoche for his valuable information and assured him that he would repeat all he had said to Colonel Arnold.
"Perhaps you would allow an old soldier to add another word," continued the hermit, as they were about to separate.
The officer was so impressed with what he had heard, and with the peculiar manner of the strange being who addressed him, that he granted an eager permission.
"As a lover of liberty, as an enemy of the English, as a friend of the Bastonnais, I think, after what has happened, it would be better for your troops to withdraw for a time from within sight of the walls of Quebec."
The officer looked up dubiously.
"They might retire to some village a little up the river. There they could revictual at leisure."