“The Governor honours you, Menard, with this undertaking.”
“He honoured De Sévigné with a majority and turned him loose in Quebec.”
“Too bad, Menard, too bad,” the Major 26 laughed. “Now I, who ask nothing better than a brisk campaign, must rot here in Quebec until I die.”
“Are you not to go?”
“No. I am to stay behind and brighten my lonely moments drilling the rabble of a home guard. Do you think you will need an escort?”
“No; the river from here to Frontenac is in use every day. I shall want canoemen. Two will be enough.”
“Very well. Let me know what supplies you need. You mistake, man, in grumbling at the work. You are building up a reputation that never could live at short range. Stay away long enough and you will be a more popular man than the Governor. I envy you, on my honour, I do.”
“One thing more, Major. This galley affair; what do you think of it?”
“You mean the capture at Frontenac? You should know better than I, Menard. You brought the prisoners down.”
“There is no doubt in my mind, Major, nor in d’Orvilliers’s! We obeyed orders.” Menard looked up expressively. “You know the Iroquois. You know how they will take it. The worst fault was La Grange’s. He captured the 27 party––and it was not a war party––by deliberate treachery. D’Orvilliers had intrusted to him the Governor’s orders that Indians must be got for the King’s galleys. As you know, d’Orvilliers and I both protested. I did not bring them here until the Governor commanded it.”