Dick had read enough to be able to make such fine speeches as were seriously affected and seriously taken in those days. He answered:
"By permitting me to worship you."
She looked at him a moment, at loss for a reply, but not disapprovingly. Before she could speak, there came a loud pounding at the rear door. The old servant, who had locked it after Dick's entrance, now returned to it to open it again.
"I think that is a party of troops in search of me," said Dick, quietly, to Catherine. "I came to Quebec on a secret mission for the United Colonies, and I have been discovered."
"Mon Dieu!" exclaimed Catherine, suddenly showing deep concern. "Don't open the door, Antoine! Do you mean, sir," turning to Dick, "that, if you were caught, you would be—"
"Hanged, probably," said Dick, seeing out of the corner of his eye that the servant had stepped aside from the door without unlocking it.
The knock was repeated, more loudly. Catherine looked distressed and perplexed.
"They will be let in, eventually," she said, in a whisper, "for my uncle will hear them, and come to see what is the matter. You must hide till they go!"
"They will search the house," replied Dick.
She stood thinking, for a few seconds. "There is one room they shall not enter," she said. "Come!"