"Pierre will give you one of ours," said Madame Ursule. "But you must eat."
"I had my supper with the officers of the fort, madame. I would have made a briefer stay if I had known what had happened on this side of the river."
"I forgot to tell you, M's'r Williams, there is an abbé here from Europe. He asked for you."
"I cannot see him to-night."
Skenedonk drew near me to speak, but I was impatient of any delay. We went into the house, and Madame Ursule said she would bring a blanket and some food to strap behind my saddle. The girls helped her. There was a hush through the jolly house. The master bustled out of the family room. I saw behind him, standing as he had stood at Mittau, a priest of fine and sweet presence, waiting for Pierre Grignon to speak the words of introduction.
"It is like seeing France again!" exclaimed the master of the house. "Abbé Edgeworth, this is M's'r Williams."
"Monsieur," said the abbé to me with perfect courtesy, "believe me, I am glad to see you."
"Monsieur," I answered, giving him as brief notice as he had given me in Mittau, yet without rancor;—there was no room in me for that. "You have unerringly found the best house in the Illinois Territory, and I leave you to the enjoyment of it."
"You are leaving the house, monsieur?"
"I find I am obliged to make a short journey."