It was as fine a day as ever dawned on Quebec. A crisp, cool air blew from the St. Lawrence, ruffling the water into little tips of foam. From a blue and cloudless sky the rising sun shone on the scattered shipping, on the green hills and islands, on the rugged and historical heights of the town. Many others besides myself were on the quay, doubtless drawn hither for the same purpose—priests, soldiers, soberly-clad citizens, several coureurs-de-bois, and a redskin or two. I had a distant view of Christopher Burley, and closer at hand I saw Captain Myles Rudstone in conversation with a group of men. By-and-by he discovered me, and strolling forward he gave me a pleasant word of greeting.
“It is quite an event, the arrival of a ship from England,” said I.
“An event of importance,” the captain replied. “But for the early hour the quay would be crowded.”
His manner was reserved and dignified, and I liked him better in this mood. Yet I observed that his face wore a puzzled and uneasy expression as he glanced at me, and that he seemed disinclined to look me straight in the eyes. He ignored the events of the previous night, neither making any reference to them nor offering the slightest apology. He chatted indifferently for a moment or two, and then asked abruptly:
“You are waiting for the Good Hope, Mr. Carew?”
I nodded assent.
“Expecting a friend, perhaps?” he went on, carelessly; and I detected a masked note of curiosity in his voice. It put me on my guard.
“Not exactly a friend,” I replied evasively. “I am to meet a person whom I have never seen.”
“A strange coincidence, indeed!” said the captain, with a laugh. “That is precisely my situation.” He bent his head a little closer. “I am on duty this morning,” he added. “Secret work for the company, you understand.”
If he hoped by this confidence to draw my own in return he was disappointed, though there was in truth no reason why I should not speak freely; but it pleased me to be as mysterious as himself, so I answered him by nodding my head wisely. Our eyes met, and he hastily turned and looked out on the river.