The Seats Of The Mighty, Complete

e mouse saw them also, and scampered from the bread it had been eating, away among the corn, through which my footsteps had now made two r

nged my clothes. Presently Gabord said, "Stools for barber," and, wheeling, he left the dungeon. He was gone only an instant, but long

answered. "She make me say, look to t

elf on the other for Voban's handiwork. Presently a soldier appeared with a bowl of coffee. Gabord rose, took it from him, waved him away, and handed it to me. Never did coffee taste so sweet, and I sipped and sipped till Voban h

led with white, my face was intensely pale and thin, and the eyes were sunk in dark hollows. I should not have recogn

," Gabord answered, "no

h him. "The commissariat camps here in an

ence. It seemed to me strange then, and it has seemed so ever since, that during all that time

is particular morning that he cam

ooking round as if the place were

we all come to

he rejoined; "you'v

orted; "nothing

to find it quick

for La Pompad

ded he; "of no use to him or you, o

e to me,

ise and the writer would g

I not be my

t your own trap and fallen into it. Now, if you do not give me the letters-well, you will give them to none else in this world. It has been a fair game, and I am

ed so long, do you think I'll give

ser," he answer

tion behind

you in a hole

itadel and dig me out som

life is more to you th

uld give my life a hundred time

on," he replied; "

it, Monsieur Doltaire,"

g a maze that leads to nowhere save the grave." He yawned.

as at this mome

m I so m

ickster," I a

No, no, you were to blame-so green. You might have

come out as you

th Alixe; and though I felt that she was true to me, his cool presumption so stirred me I could have struck him in the face. I

riosity; "your wounds still trouble you? They should

gh," answered I. "I have h

t braggarts you English are!" he said. "A ra

e had kept his temper. I made an effort. "Bo

old vein. I love to see you so. But how knew you our b

tell the water was n

he broke out gaily; "you w

a message from the Governor to

e?" he asked. "Think-dan

on your fate in

r with his hand. "The letters I shall no mo

that way,"

my captain. I go to dine a

ndering if the Seigneur had ever made an effort t

s the i

er to where the torch stuck in the wall, and drew Alixe's letter fro

OUIS, 27th No

, dear friend, and not a word from you! I should have broken my heart if I had not heard of you one way and another. They say you are much worn in body, th

have to work through him with the Intendant, that he will not set the Governor more against you. With the Intendant himself I will not deal at all. So I use the lesser villain, and in truth the more powerful, for he stands higher at Versailles than any here. With the Governor I have influence, for he is, as you know, a kinsman of m

ext year, but I feared you would die in that awful dungeon, and I was sure that if your trial came on there would be a change, as there is to be for a time, at lea

g of a stubborn nature, too, when Monsieur Doltaire and the Intendant opposed the trial, he said it should come off at once. But one thing grieves me: they are to have you marched through the streets of the town like any common crim

any purpose, though he is kind to me. I shall try once more to have him take some wine and meat to you to-night. If

our hand to your forehead-But no, they may bind you, and your hands may not be free. When you see me, pause in your step for an instant, an

will not think you, whate'er they say, unworthy of my constant faith. Some day, maybe, we shall smile at, and even cherish, these sad times. In this gay house I must b

IX

opped from my language. True, it was only in a dungeon, on a pair of stools, by the light of a torch, but how

and soon I knew that I was to be driven out upon the St. Foye Road and on into the town. My arms were well fastened down, and I was tied about till I must have looked like a bale of living goods of no great value. Indeed, my clothes were by no

idly waiting, Gabord muttering a little and stamping upon the floor as if in anger, though I knew he was merely playing a small part to deceive his c

ere, standing three hundred feet above the noble river, I could look out upon its sweet expanse, across to the Levis shore, with its serried legions of trees behind, and its bold settlement in front upon the Heights. There, eastward lay the well-wooded Island of Orleans, and over all the clear sun and sky, e

's voice behind, and presently he said over my shoulder,

t scene had given me an impulse towa

er had," I ans

d. "You should thank us. You have your

words; you shall have the same

Two would be monotony. You think your English will take this some time?" he asked, waving a finger towards the citadel. "It w

I answered. "We will have

. Gabord here will see you temptingly dispo

l twist your nose,

nourished well like me, and I shall look a battered hulk like you. But I shall never be the fool that you

d I. "I am no fool-an

ng soon, I fear-

n order on his breast. There was something more refined than powerful in his appearance, but he had a keen, kindly eye, and a manner unmistakably superior. His dress was a little barbarous, unlike D

could see that he was curious concerning me. Presently he raised his hand, and, as if something had excited him, said, "No

on to the doors of the citadel, and, pausing there, Doltaire turned round and made a motion of his hand to Gabord. I was at once surrounded by the sq

s, and made all manner of mocking noises. It was meant not only against myself, but against the British people. The women were not behi

er trials and expected worse. Now and again appeared a face I knew-some lady who

rodded by a soldier from behind, and I then stepped on. Entering, we were taken to the rear of the building, where, in an open courtyard, were a company of soldier

me, I was tumbled into the river far below. At last, from the Chateau came the Marquis de Vaudreuil, Bigot, and a number of officers. The Governor looked gravely at me, but did not bow; Bigot gave me a sneering smile

d, and he said, looking round, "

answered, "No doubt he i

r Duvarney?" the

the conflict between his son and the notorious Captain Moray. And from another standpoint, though the prisoner merited any fate reserved for him, if guilty of spying, he could not forget that his life had been saved by thi

ing in his ear which did not improve his humour, for he replied curtly,

ed, and gave the stranger a warm greeting, calling him his "dear Chevalier;" and, after a deal of urging, the

uld have dragged on all day, for I soon saw it was intended to find me guilty. Yet I was surprised to see how Doltaire brought up a point here and a ques

en from General Braddock were mine, and that I had made the plans while a hostage. I acknowledged nothing, and

between us. However, I stood by my compact with him. Besides, it could not serve me to speak of it her

ded I should be free within two months and a half-that is, when prisoners in our hands should be delivered up to them, as they were. They

soldier held a torch at a distance. Suddenly there was a silence; then, in response to a signal, the sharp ringing of a hundred bayonets as they were drawn and fastened to the muskets, and I could see them gleaming in the feeble torchlight. Presently, out of the sti

e is guilty, and shall die

icious amusement at the Intendant. Bigot himself sat pale and furious. "Discove

s some drunken creature," he urged