CHAPTER XV
THE MARQUIS DE MONTCALM-GOZON DE ST. VERAN
In Maitre Gabriel I found a type I could readily understand; hewas very shrewd, very curious, with a passion for questioning, butso honest and childlike that he took no offence at any rebuff. Hewas a thorough sailor, a martinet to his little crew, vain of hisskill and boastful of his courage, and confident of the showing heand his fellow-Canadians would make against "les goddams," shouldthey venture to appear.
He insisted on hearing the story of our capture in detail, andseemed much more amused at the address of the Indians than distressedat our misfortune.
"They were good fellows, after all, madame. If it had not been forthem, you would not have fallen into the hands of le pere Jean.But, bedame! I cannot understand why he should send you to Quebecwhen he knew you were bound for Louisbourg. A priest, no doubt,knows much, but I can tell you, madame, if you came to me andwhispered 'Louisbourg,' it would not be by way of Quebec I shouldsend you. If you have any reason to be there, there is no time likethe present, for the English are on their way thither even now;and if they are frightened away by our ships, they will be back inthe spring; take my word for it!"
"But, Gabriel, le pere Jean spake as if nothing was to be fearedfrom any attempt they might make at present."
"Perhaps not, but they may try it, all the same. They have beenin Halifax for months past, and only sailed in August. I do notthink it will come to anything myself, but by the spring all themusic will be on hand, and the dancing before Louisbourg will beginin earnest. But pardon, madame; I forgot you had friends there, orI would not have let my tongue run on so."
"No, no, Gabriel; I wish to hear all you have learned. Why is itimpossible to go to Louisbourg?"
"Bedame! I never said it was impossible to go to Louisbourg, madame;mais, 'qui se tient a Paris, ne sera jamais pape,' and your faceis not in the right direction. If you would be there, madame, Iwould engage to find you a way in the teeth of all 'les goddams'who ever chewed rosbif. But I forget; we are going to Quebec," heended, slyly, evidently desirous that I should talk.
This, however, I would not do, but he had given me matter enoughto keep me awake by night and set me anxiously dreaming by day.
Why had the priest been so determined to keep me from Louisbourg?Now that I thought it over, I saw that I had never urged my wishat all. I had allowed my whole purpose to be swept aside at hisfirst firm refusal to consider my request. And all this time Hughwas in danger, while I had turned my back upon him. If not indanger now, he certainly would be in the spring, and all my effort,with those weary miles of sea again between us, would be unavailingfor his recall. Indeed, he would probably refuse to leave his postif it were threatened by an enemy. Why had I consented? Why was Ieven now lengthening the heart-breaking distance between us withevery coward mile I travelled? Why had I not pleaded with le pereJean, instead of obeying blindly, like a child? He had not knownthe real danger, perhaps, or his advice would have been different.
Could I have spoken freely with Lucy, I might have gained somecomfort; but, alas! my lips were sealed towards her. How could Iexpect her to understand even if I could speak? My distress shewould readily comprehend, but she could not possibly know anythingof such a love as Hugh's; so I was forced to take the sympathy ofher silent companionship, making her such return as I might.
Gabriel, I grew almost afraid of; he questioned me so cunningly,without seeming to do so, that I was in constant dread lest I shouldbetray my secret and declare the desire which was consuming me. Itwas a relief when I could turn his curiosity and lead him to talkof his own life and the places we passed; for the wilderness ofhills of the North Shore, to which we had crossed, was broken hereand there by settlements, as at Les Eboulements, where the tinychurch and village nestled by the water's edge at the foot ofmountains rising and rolling back to purple heights behind. We werehere shut out from the main river by the wooded shores of the Isleaux Coudres, which Gabriel regarded with peculiar pride, as somewhereon its farther side stood his white-washed cottage, where his wifekept her lonely guard during his long absences, and spent sleeplesswatches on wild nights in autumn, entreating the protection of St.Joseph and Our Lady of Good Help for her man, fighting for lifesomewhere on the dangerous waters.
"She must be very strong with her prayers, ma bonne femme, forevery time I have come safe home--eh, madame?"
It was a pleasure to me to confirm him in his belief.
The next morning we passed the wide mouth of the Gouffre at la BaieSt. Paul, but fortunately without experiencing its formidable wind,and early in the afternoon we saw rising before us the purple massof Cap Tourmente. We stood well out here to escape the strongcurrent; in the distance before us lay the green point of the islandof Orleans, and behind it, to the north, Gabriel pointed out thebeautifully rising slopes of the Cote de Beaupre, with the prideof a man who is in love with his country.
But soon his attention became fixed on a boat of better appearancethan any we had as yet seen, standing in for the main shore.
"No fishing-boat that!" he exclaimed. "It must be some of theofficers down from Quebec." He altered our course so that we stoodin to intercept her. His excitement grew as we approached. "I amright," he shouted. "She is the yacht from Quebec. I must go onboard. They will wish to hear what news I carry from below."
As soon as we were within a reasonable distance he made some signalwith his sail and, both boats staying their way, he launched hisshallop over the side, and quickly rowed to the stranger. We watchedhim with keen interest, especially as we saw there were officerson board. Before long he was on his way back to us, and, as soonas he was within speaking distance, he called in the greatestexcitement:
"Oh, madame! On board there is his Excellency, M. de Montcalm. Hewishes to see you. Pardon, madame, pardon if I say hurry. Do notkeep him waiting."
It was indeed a startling summons, and the last I was expecting,but I accepted it without hesitation, and, making such slightpreparation as was possible, Gabriel helped me carefully into thetossing boat; and put such heart into his rowing that in a fewmoments we were safely alongside the yacht, and a strong hand washeld down to me. "Courage, madame! hold firmly and step slowly,"and, as the shallop lifted, I stepped lightly on the deck, whereI was surrounded by a group of gentlemen.
"Madame," said one of them, bowing, "I am Monsieur de Montcalm,and, believe me, my best endeavours are entirely at your service.We have heard something of your adventure from our good MaitreGabriel here."
"Monsieur le marquis, it is to your friend le pere Jean we owe oursafety, and he has added to my obligation by commending me to yourcare in this letter," said, handing him the precious billet.
"Any lady in your position, madame, would command my service ofright, but such a recommendation makes it obligatory; there islittle I would not do to please my friend le pere Jean."
"There is little I would not do to pleasele pere Jean."]
As he glanced over the note, I had opportunity to observe him moreclosely. I had often heard of him from Gaston in the old days, forthey had been friends from boyhood, and had done much campaigningtogether in Germany and elsewhere. He looked worn, like a man whohad grown old before his time, but I could trace the likeness tothe warm-hearted, hot-headed young officer whom I had so oftenpictured, in his large eyes, which had lost nothing of their youthfulfire, and in his smile, which had the charm that does not disappearwith years.
"Madame de St. Just," he said, when he had finished reading, "Ican spare you the necessity of even asking my help, and must notlay you under any obligation greater than this little voyage fromyour boat to mine, to which you would not have been subject had Iknown of your relation to my friend le pere Jean. He tells me yourintention was to have gone to Louisbourg. If that be still yourdesire, madame, I can at least spare you the journey to Quebec,and can promise you an easy passage to Louisbourg as soon as thesnow makes good travelling, for, in Canada, summer is no time fora long journey across country. But let us be se
ated and talk thismatter over quietly," and he waved his hand towards the stern ofthe yacht, where some of the officers hastened to arrange theircloaks into comfortable seats.
My heart was in the strangest commotion as I saw the drift ofcircumstance that was sweeping me onward, without effort on mypart, towards the end I most desired; I had not spoken, and herewas the arbiter of my fate putting into words all that I dared notask. I resolved not even to think, but to leave the issue in hishands.
"Had you ever met le pere Jean before, madame?" he resumed.
"No, monsieur. How could I? But I cannot help feeling I have metyou. I was wont to hear your name very often when a young girl?"
"Indeed? And to whom did I owe that favour?"
"To your friend, the Vicomte de Trincardel."
He stared at me as if in great amazement, and when he spake histone was that of a man deeply puzzled.
"You know the Vicomte de Trincardel?".
"Assuredly, monsieur--that is, I did know him. He was a frequentvisitor at my guardian's both in Paris and London," and then Istupidly fell to blushing like a school-girl.
"Strange, very strange," he muttered, in an absent manner.
"No, monsieur, not strange," I answered, for I could not bear heshould misunderstand; "my family name is Nairn, and my guardianwas the late Lady Jane Drummond."
"Oh, pardon me, madame; it was only the odd chance of my meetingwith you that I marvelled at. But it is a narrow world, after all,for a few years ago, when in Italy, I heard of your brother fromthe Cardinal York: he spake of him in terms of the warmest affection."
"Helas! monsieur, my brother is dead to me. He has deserted thecause to which I and mine have been faithful; he now holds acommission in the English army."
"Again I must ask for pardon; but to come back to your plans. Nowas to Louisbourg, there is no danger, madame, either on the journeyor when you reach there, provided you leave again before spring.You can be safely back in Quebec before the snows go, and on yourway to France by the first ship, long ere any serious dangerthreatens. I am taking for granted, however, that you will hardlychoose to remain in this enchanting colony longer than may benecessary. Would it meet your wish, if you were to return by thespring?"
"Oh, perfectly, perfectly, monsieur!" I exclaimed, overjoyed toanswer a question which presented no difficulties and opened outa way before me.
"Then, madame, I would recommend the following plan: instead ofgoing on to Quebec, by which you will lose little, save a glimpseat a society which is not without its charm, you should go backacross the river and down as far as Beaulieu, where you will findMme. de Sarennes and her charming daughter Angelique. I shall giveyou letters which will ensure you a welcome and a shelter for suchtime as you may have to remain under her care. Her son Charles,who is a noted figure in the colony, will be up and down betweenLouisbourg and Quebec during the winter, and I will see that hetakes charge of you and conducts you safely on your journey.
"And now, madame, it is very probable that you are but ill suppliedwith money, if indeed you have any. Pardon my frankness, but I amold enough to be your father, and I know the awkwardness of sucha position. If I be correct, I am sure you will not deny me thepleasure of helping you."
"Monsieur, your kindness needs no excuse; but, with a thousandthanks, let me assure you I am well, even abundantly supplied, asI had nearly all my money sewn in my clothes before leaving, andI do not foresee any want of that kind, even though my stay belonger than now appears probable. But I shall be most grateful foryour letter to Mme. de Sarennes, and it shall be my endeavour notto prove a burthen on her hospitality."
"M. de Bougainville," he said, beckoning to one of his officers,"will you come and tell Mme. de St. Just something of this charmingcountry, while I write some letters?" So saying, he introduced hisaide to me, and stepped into the cabin, leaving me to the amusingsociety of his officers. The moments passed quickly until theMarquis reappeared bearing two letters.
"Do not disappear, gentlemen, unless it be to seek a glass of winein which to wish madame 'bon voyage.'
"This, madame," he said, handing me one of the letters, "is to Mme.de Sarennes; but with it I have taken care to enclose that of lepere Jean, for our good Canadians, as you will find, attach morevalue to the simple word of a priest--and in this instance I willnot say they are wrong--than to the command of any lay authority.His letter will spare you all explanations with the mother, andthis other will serve as an order for that gallant coureur de bois,her son, when he puts in an appearance, in the event of his visitingBeaulieu before I see him in Quebec. Let me assure you, further,that you have only to command my services, should you need them,either before or after you may reach Louisbourg. The Chevalier deDrucour, I am persuaded, will be only too ready to do me a service,should I ask it either on my behalf or on that of another. I shallesteem it, if you will consider yourself as under my protection."
"But, monsieur, what claim have I to all this kindness?" I asked,overwhelmed at the possibilities I saw before me.
"You are the friend of my friend; I would do anything for his sake,"he answered, simply, disdaining any of those compliments whichwould so readily suggest themselves to a man of less nice breeding.
"I am sorry we cannot offer you any fitting hospitality here," hesaid, as he rose. Then, turning towards the others, he added:"Gentlemen, I am apologising for our scanty larder, which preventsour detaining Mme. de St. Just for supper. M. de Bougainville, asa mathematician, might have seen to a less exact but more generousprovision."
"His head was among the stars," explained a jovial-looking officer,in a rueful tone, "and we less-exalted mortals are the losers,alas!"
"But surely we have somewhat to drink to the success of madame'sjourney?" said M. de Montcalm, in mock alarm.
"Assuredly, mon general! I at least was not star-gazing when I laidin the Bordeaux. I can even provide a glass of Frontignan formadame," responded a little bright-eyed officer.
"Bravo, Joannes!" laughed the general. "Frontignan! That bringsback the whole South, madame; its very name makes me homesick.Homesickness makes us all young, makes us all little children again.Ma foi! I believe that is why the Spaniard pretended the Fountainof Youth was to be found in the New World. I defy any one to remainhere and not have perpetual youth, if my theory be correct."
"But at least madame did not come to seek it," responded M. deBougainville, gallantly, "and we are keeping her standing."
Thereupon they touched my glass, in order, each with a prettilyturned wish for my good fortunes, and I tasted the sweet wine ofFrontignan in return to the toast they drank together. No wishescould have been more welcome, and the little friendly ceremonymeant much to me; indeed my heart was very full when M. de Montcalmbent over and kissed my hand as he helped me into the shallop andwe pulled off into the dusk. Did I need anything further to set myuneasy mind at rest, I found it in the quiet words of Lucy when Itold her of the outcome of my visit.
"Oh, my dear mistress," she exclaimed, in a voice full of feeling,"He hath made our path straight to our feet!"