The Seats Of The Mighty, Complete

hen I saw whither my footsteps were directed I said nothing, nor did Gabord speak at all. We marched back through a railing crowd as we had come, all

earth, where the air was moist and warm, and then into my dungeon home! I stepped inside, and Gabord ordered the ropes off my person somewhat roughly, watched the soldiers till they were wel

the torch stuck in the wall. But he suddenly stopped sh

and when out I came, look you, this here! I can't see to read.

aper, held it towards

there not the watcher aloft? Shall the sparrow

t he might not serve her, had put her message in vague sentences which I readily interpreted. I read the w

tly; "yet what should she be

e," he answered, "eve

, I threw myself upon my couch, drew my cloak over me, composed myself, and in a few minutes was sound

re you fetch him to the pot." he said,

cket. I offered him money, but he refused it, and I did not press him, for he said the food and wine were not of his bu

is chaplain had been in the citadel for some weeks; that he had often inquired about me; that he had been brought from the Ohio; and had known of me, having tended the lieutenant of my Virginian infantry in his last hours. Gab

ill I make my refuge, until t

after hour through many days, while no single word reached me from the outside world, I wrote on; carefully revising, but changing little from that which I had taken so long to record in my mind. I would not even

bear for me to old friends, if we never met again and he were set free, he left me, benignly commending me to Heaven. There was the question of my other letters. I had but one desire-Voban again, unless at my request the Seigneur Duvarney would come, and they would let him come. If it were certain that I was

or both Voban and the Seig

play at peacock still? Well, thou shalt see

the Seigneur Duvarney to visit me, if he were so inclined. At his request I wrote my pet

neur set off with furs and silken sash and sword or pistols; the long-haired, black-eyed woodsman in his embroidered moccasins and leggings with flying thrums; the peasant farmer slapping his hands cheerfully in the lighted market-place; the petty noble, with his demoiselle, hovering in the precincts of the Chateau St. Louis and the intendance. Up

lower of Prince Charlie, I had refused my liberty; cut myself off from the useful services of my King; wasted good years of my life, trusting to pressure and help to come from England, which never came; twisted the rope for my own neck to keep honour with the dishonourable Doltaire, who himself had set the noose swinging; and, inexpressible misery! involved in my shame and peril a young blit

is weapons, and run my chances to get free of the citadel. Free? Where should I go in the dead of winter? Who would hide me, shelter me? I could not make my way to an English settlement. Ill clad, exposed to the merciless climate, and the end death. But that was freedom-freedom! I could feel my body dilating with the thought, as I paced my dungeon like an ill-temp

for, almost before I had grown calm again, the bolts of the dungeon doors

ge voice, and stepping again outside, he c

hining like lights set in a rosy sky. A moment of doubt, of impossible speculation, of delicious suspense, and then the coat of Voban the barber opened, dropped away

s cast anchor and bless God that they have seen upon the heights, to guide them, the li

a seat and sat down beside her. Then by the light of the flickering torch and flaring candles I watched her feelings play upon her face as the warm light of autumn shifts upon the glories of ripe fruits. Her happiness was tempered by the sadness of our position, and my heart smote me that I had made her suffer, had brought care to her young life. I could see that in the year she had

my sister Georgette and I might have no great journeyings in the cold to the festivities hereabouts. So I, being a favourite with the Governor, ran in and out of the Chateau at my will; of which my mother was proud, and she allowed me much liberty, for to be a favourite of the Governor is an honour. I knew how things were going, and what the chances were of the sentence being carried out on you. Sometimes I thought my heart would burst with the anxiety of it all, but I would not let that show to the world. If you c

ld bear upon the morals, not the law of the case.' Then said I, 'Has it to do with you, monsieur?' 'It has to do with France,' he replied. 'And so you will not have his death?' I asked. 'Bigot wishes it,' he replied, 'for no other reason than that Madame Cournal has spoken nice words for the good-looking captain, and because that unsuccessful duel gave Vaudreuil an advantage over himself. Vaudreuil wishes it because he thinks it will sound well in France, and also because he really believes the man a spy. The Council do not care much; they follow the Governor and Bigot, and both being agreed, their verdict is unanimous.' He paused, then added, 'And the Seigneur D

o go myself to the Governor at the last and plead for your life, at least for a reprieve. But it had suddenly flashed upon me that a referen

t that I said calmly to him, 'You must remember that then he was not thought so base.' 'Yes, yes,' he replied; 'and a woman loves to pity the captive, whatever his fault, if he be presentable and of some notice or talent. And Moray has gifts,' he went on. I appeared all at once to be offended. 'Veering, indeed! a woman's fancy! I think you might judge women better. You come from high places, Monsieur Doltaire, and they say this and that of your great talents and of your power at Versailles, but what proof have we had of it? You set a girl down with a fine patronage, and you hint at weapons to cut off my cousin the Governor and the Intendant from their purposes; but how do we know you can use them, that you have power with either the unnoticeable woman or the great men?' I knew very well it was a bold move. He suddenly turned to me, in his cruel eyes a glittering kind of light, and said, 'I suggest no more than I can do with those "great men"; and as for the woman, the slave can not be patron-I am the slave. I thought not of power before; but now t

row's sunrise. You must know how I loathe deceitfulness, but when one weak girl is matched against powerful and evil men, what can she do? My conscience does not chide me, for I know my cause is just. Robert, loo

uld know all, carrying proofs away with her, and that h

instant his hateful hands were to be placed on me. Oh, Robert, I know how perilous was the part I played, but I dared it for your sake. For a whole year I have dissembled to every one save to tha

happened to him! You know what wild doings go on at Bigot's chateau out at Charlesbourg; or, again, in the storm of yesterday he may have been lost. You see, there are the hundred chances; so I determined not to trust wholly to him. There was one other way-to seek the Governor myself, open my heart to him, and beg for a reprieve. To-night at nine o'clock-it is now six, Robert-we go to the Chateau St. Louis, my mothe

s my surprise to see that Voban's name had been left out! It but gave permission to the bearer. That would serve with the common soldier, but I knew well it would not with Gabord or with the commandant of the citadel. All at once I saw the great risk I was running, the danger to us both. Still I would not turn back. But how good fortune serves us when we least look for it! At the commandant's very door was Gabord. I did not think to deceive him. It was my purpose from the first to throw myself upon his mercy. So there, that moment, I thrust the order into his hand. He read it, looked a moment, half fiercely and half kindly, at me, then turned and took the order to

my life-reputation, friends, even myself, the one solace in her possible misery. Was it not my duty to agree to Doltaire's terms, for her sake, if there was yet a chance to do so? I had made a solemn promise to Sir John Godric that those letters, if they ever left my hands, should go to the lady who had written them; and to save my

n giving Alixe the packet which held my story, I told her hastily the matter between Doltaire and myself, and said that now, rather than give her sorrow, I was prepar

?" she said, hold

I ans

break your word to

y head in

l not break your promise for me. No, no, you shall not; you shall not s

y. I have given no word or bond. I will go to the Governor with my love, and I do not fear the

e that she would not act till midnight. This was hardly achieved when Gabord entered quick

aking the hint, I threw myself upon my couch, and composed myself. An instant afterwards the Seigneur appeared with a soldier, and Gabord met him cheerfully, looked at the order from the Governor, and motioned the Seigneur in and the soldier away. As Duvarney stepped inside, Gabord followed, h

ch would trouble him for many a day, weighed heavily against me. Again, I think that he guessed my love for Alixe, and resented it with all his might. What Frenchman would care to have his daughter lose her heart to one accused of

s against you, how obdurate is the Governor, who, if he should appear lax in dealing with you, would give a weapon into Bigot's

one man who could bend the Governor, but he, alas! is no friend of yours. And what way th

eur Doltaire?"

eason to weigh with him- But I have none, unless you can give it. There are vague hints of things between you and him, and I

urned I, "that there is any

I wish to serve you for the sake of past frien

quarrel with you

said slowly, "though a great we

was in no sense mine. I was struck across the face; I humbled

" he urged, so

monsieur," I replied,

nd the matter," was

nothing of you, have desired nothing but justice-that only. I shall make no further move; the axe shall fall if it must. I have nothing now to do but set my house in order, and li

our own grave closing in. I was asked by the Governor to tell you that if you would put him in the way of knowing the affairs of your provinces from the letters you have

of wounds an insolent youth gave me. I wish now that I had

ything, in the wildness of my anger. I c

t nothing. I bring the Governor's message, that is all. And let me say,"

d I was glad that at the moment Gabo

me in peace, then?" as

te injury outweigh an old friendship. I am ashamed, but not only for myself. Let us part in peace-ay, let us

, and brave; if the worst comes, I know how you will meet

him, and I was alone; and for a moment my heart was heavy beyond telling, and a terr