English
EDG.—Beforeyoufightthebattleopethisletter.”
—Lear
MajorHeywardfoundMunroattendedonlybyhisdaughters.
Alicesatuponhisknee,partingthegrayhairsontheforeheadoftheoldmanwithherdelicatefingers;andwheneverheaffectedtofrownonhertrifling,appeasinghisassumedangerbypressingherrubylipsfondlyonhiswrinkledbrow.
Corawasseatednighthem,acalmandamusedlooker–on;regardingthewaywardmovementsofhermoreyouthfulsisterwiththatspeciesofmaternalfondnesswhichcharacterizedherloveforAlice.
Notonlythedangersthroughwhichtheyhadpassed,butthosewhichstillimpendedabovethem,appearedtobemomentarilyforgotten,inthesoothingindulgenceofsuchafamilymeeting.
Itseemedasiftheyhadprofitedbytheshorttruce,todevoteaninstanttothepurestandbestaffection;thedaughtersforgettingtheirfears,andtheveteranhiscares,inthesecurityofthemoment.
Ofthisscene,Duncan,who,inhiseagernesstoreporthisarrival,hadenteredunannounced,stoodmanymomentsanunobservedandadelightedspectator.
ButthequickanddancingeyesofAlicesooncaughtaglimpseofhisfigurereflectedfromaglass,andshesprangblushingfromherfather’sknee,exclaimingaloud:
“MajorHeyward!”
“Whatofthelad?”demandedherfather;“IhavesenthimtocrackalittlewiththeFrenchman.
Ha,sir,youareyoung,andyou’renimble!
Awaywithyou,yebaggage;asiftherewerenottroublesenoughforasoldier,withouthavinghiscampfilledwithsuchprattlinghussiesasyourself!”
Alicelaughinglyfollowedhersister,whoinstantlyledthewayfromanapartmentwheresheperceivedtheirpresencewasnolongerdesirable.
Munro,insteadofdemandingtheresultoftheyoungman’smission,pacedtheroomforafewmoments,withhishandsbehindhisback,andhisheadinclinedtowardthefloor,likeamanlostinthought.
Atlengthheraisedhiseyes,glisteningwithafather’sfondness,andexclaimed:
“Theyareapairofexcellentgirls,Heyward,andsuchasanyonemayboastof.”
“Youarenotnowtolearnmyopinionofyourdaughters,ColonelMunro.”
“True,lad,true,”interruptedtheimpatientoldman;“youwereaboutopeningyourmindmorefullyonthatmatterthedayyougotin,butIdidnotthinkitbecominginanoldsoldiertobetalkingofnuptialblessingsandweddingjokeswhentheenemiesofhiskingwerelikelytobeunbiddenguestsatthefeast.
ButIwaswrong,Duncan,boy,Iwaswrongthere;andIamnowreadytohearwhatyouhavetosay.”
“Notwithstandingthepleasureyourassurancegivesme,dearsir,Ihavejustnow,amessagefromMontcalm—”
“LettheFrenchmanandallhishostgotothedevil,sir!”exclaimedthehastyveteran.
“HeisnotyetmasterofWilliamHenry,norshallheeverbe,providedWebbproveshimselfthemanheshould.
No,sir,thankHeavenwearenotyetinsuchastraitthatitcanbesaidMunroistoomuchpressedtodischargethelittledomesticdutiesofhisownfamily.
Yourmotherwastheonlychildofmybosomfriend,Duncan;andI’lljustgiveyouahearing,thoughalltheknightsofSt.Louiswereinabodyatthesally–port,withtheFrenchsaintattheirhead,cryingtospeakawordunderfavor.
Aprettydegreeofknighthood,sir,isthatwhichcanbeboughtwithsugarhogsheads!andthenyourtwopennymarquisates.
Thethistleistheorderfordignityandantiquity;theveritable‘nemomeimpunelacessit’ofchivalry.
Yehadancestorsinthatdegree,Duncan,andtheywereanornamenttothenoblesofScotland.”
Heyward,whoperceivedthathissuperiortookamaliciouspleasureinexhibitinghiscontemptforthemessageoftheFrenchgeneral,wasfaintohumoraspleenthatheknewwouldbeshort–lived;hetherefore,repliedwithasmuchindifferenceashecouldassumeonsuchasubject:
“Myrequest,asyouknow,sir,wentsofarastopresumetothehonorofbeingyourson.”
“Ay,boy,youfoundwordstomakeyourselfveryplainlycomprehended.But,letmeaskye,sir,haveyoubeenasintelligibletothegirl?”
“Onmyhonor,no,”exclaimedDuncan,warmly;“therewouldhavebeenanabuseofaconfidedtrust,hadItakenadvantageofmysituationforsuchapurpose.”
“Yournotionsarethoseofagentleman,MajorHeyward,andwellenoughintheirplace.
ButCoraMunroisamaidentoodiscreet,andofamindtooelevatedandimproved,toneedtheguardianshipevenofafather.”
“Cora!”
“Ay—Cora!wearetalkingofyourpretensionstoMissMunro,arewenot,sir?”
“I—I—Iwasnotconsciousofhavingmentionedhername,”saidDuncan,stammering.
“Andtomarrywhom,then,didyouwishmyconsent,MajorHeyward?”demandedtheoldsoldier,erectinghimselfinthedignityofoffendedfeeling.
“Youhaveanother,andnotlesslovelychild.”
“Alice!”exclaimedthefather,inanastonishmentequaltothatwithwhichDuncanhadjustrepeatedthenameofhersister.
“Suchwasthedirectionofmywishes,sir.”
Theyoungmanawaitedinsilencetheresultoftheextraordinaryeffectproducedbyacommunication,which,asitnowappeared,wassounexpected.
ForseveralminutesMunropacedthechamberwithlongandrapidstrides,hisrigidfeaturesworkingconvulsively,andeveryfacultyseeminglyabsorbedinthemusingsofhisownmind.
Atlength,hepauseddirectlyinfrontofHeyward,andrivetinghiseyesuponthoseoftheother,hesaid,withalipthatquiveredviolently:
“DuncanHeyward,Ihavelovedyouforthesakeofhimwhosebloodisinyourveins;Ihavelovedyouforyourowngoodqualities;andIhavelovedyou,becauseIthoughtyouwouldcontributetothehappinessofmychild.
Butallthislovewouldturntohatred,wereIassuredthatwhatIsomuchapprehendistrue.”
“Godforbidthatanyactorthoughtofmineshouldleadtosuchachange!”
exclaimedtheyoungman,whoseeyeneverquailedunderthepenetratinglookitencountered.
Withoutadvertingtotheimpossibilityoftheother’scomprehendingthosefeelingswhichwerehidinhisownbosom,Munrosufferedhimselftobeappeasedbytheunalteredcountenancehemet,andwithavoicesensiblysoftened,hecontinued:
“Youwouldbemyson,Duncan,andyou’reignorantofthehistoryofthemanyouwishtocallyourfather.
Sityedown,youngman,andIwillopentoyouthewoundsofasearedheart,inasfewwordsasmaybesuitable.”
Bythistime,themessageofMontcalmwasasmuchforgottenbyhimwhoboreitasbythemanforwhoseearsitwasintended.
Eachdrewachair,andwhiletheveterancommunedafewmomentswithhisownthoughts,apparentlyinsadness,theyouthsuppressedhisimpatienceinalookandattitudeofrespectfulattention.Atlength,theformerspoke:
“You’llknow,already,MajorHeyward,thatmyfamilywasbothancientandhonorable,”commencedtheScotsman;“thoughitmightnotaltogetherbeendowedwiththatamountofwealththatshouldcorrespondwithitsdegree.
Iwas,maybe,suchanoneasyourselfwhenIplightedmyfaithtoAliceGraham,theonlychildofaneighboringlairdofsomeestate.
Buttheconnectionwasdisagreeabletoherfather,onmoreaccountsthanmypoverty.
Idid,therefore,whatanhonestmanshould—restoredthemaidenhertroth,anddepartedthecountryintheserviceofmyking.
Ihadseenmanyregions,andhadshedmuchbloodindifferentlands,beforedutycalledmetotheislandsoftheWestIndies.
Thereitwasmylottoformaconnectionwithonewhointimebecamemywife,andthemotherofCora.
Shewasthedaughterofagentlemanofthoseisles,byaladywhosemisfortuneitwas,ifyouwill,”saidtheoldman,proudly,“tobedescended,remotely,fromthatunfortunateclasswhoaresobaselyenslavedtoadministertothewantsofaluxuriouspeople.
Ay,sir,thatisacurse,entailedonScotlandbyherunnaturalunionwithaforeignandtradingpeople.
ButcouldIfindamanamongthemwhowoulddaretoreflectonmychild,heshouldfeeltheweightofafather’sanger!Ha!
MajorHeyward,youareyourselfbornatthesouth,wheretheseunfortunatebeingsareconsideredofaraceinferiortoyourown.”
”’Tismostunfortunatelytrue,sir,”saidDuncan,unableanylongertopreventhiseyesfromsinkingtothefloorinembarrassment.
“Andyoucastitonmychildasareproach!YouscorntominglethebloodoftheHeywardswithonesodegraded—lovelyandvirtuousthoughshebe?”fiercelydemandedthejealousparent.
“Heavenprotectmefromaprejudicesounworthyofmyreason!”
returnedDuncan,atthesametimeconsciousofsuchafeeling,andthatasdeeplyrootedasifithadbeeningraftedinhisnature.
“Thesweetness,thebeauty,thewitcheryofyouryoungerdaughter,ColonelMunro,mightexplainmymotiveswithoutimputingtomethisinjustice.”
“Yeareright,sir,”returnedtheoldman,againchanginghistonestothoseofgentleness,orrathersoftness;“thegirlistheimageofwhathermotherwasatheryears,andbeforeshehadbecomeacquaintedwithgrief.
WhendeathdeprivedmeofmywifeIreturnedtoScotland,enrichedbythemarriage;and,wouldyouthinkit,Duncan!
thesufferingangelhadremainedintheheartlessstateofcelibacytwentylongyears,andthatforthesakeofamanwhocouldforgether!
Shedidmore,sir;sheoverlookedmywantoffaith,and,alldifficultiesbeingnowremoved,shetookmeforherhusband.”
“AndbecamethemotherofAlice?”exclaimedDuncan,withaneagernessthatmighthaveproveddangerousatamomentwhenthethoughtsofMunrowerelessoccupiedthatatpresent.
“Shedid,indeed,”saidtheoldman,“anddearlydidshepayfortheblessingshebestowed.
Butsheisasaintinheaven,sir;anditillbecomesonewhosefootrestsonthegravetomournalotsoblessed.
Ihadherbutasingleyear,though;ashorttermofhappinessforonewhohadseenheryouthfadeinhopelesspining.”
Therewassomethingsocommandinginthedistressoftheoldman,thatHeywarddidnotdaretoventureasyllableofconsolation.
Munrosatutterlyunconsciousoftheother’spresence,hisfeaturesexposedandworkingwiththeanguishofhisregrets,whileheavytearsfellfromhiseyes,androlledunheededfromhischeekstothefloor.
Atlengthhemoved,andasifsuddenlyrecoveringhisrecollection;whenhearose,andtakingasingleturnacrosstheroom,heapproachedhiscompanionwithanairofmilitarygrandeur,anddemanded:
“Haveyounot,MajorHeyward,somecommunicationthatIshouldhearfromthemarquisdeMontcalm?”
Duncanstartedinhisturn,andimmediatelycommencedinanembarrassedvoice,thehalf–forgottenmessage.
ItisunnecessarytodwellupontheevasivethoughpolitemannerwithwhichtheFrenchgeneralhadeludedeveryattemptofHeywardtowormfromhimthepurportofthecommunicationhehadproposedmaking,oronthedecided,thoughstillpolishedmessage,bywhichhenowgavehisenemytounderstand,that,unlesshechosetoreceiveitinperson,heshouldnotreceiveitatall.
AsMunrolistenedtothedetailofDuncan,theexcitedfeelingsofthefathergraduallygavewaybeforetheobligationsofhisstation,andwhentheotherwasdone,hesawbeforehimnothingbuttheveteran,swellingwiththewoundedfeelingsofasoldier.
“Youhavesaidenough,MajorHeyward,”exclaimedtheangryoldman;“enoughtomakeavolumeofcommentaryonFrenchcivility.
Herehasthisgentlemaninvitedmetoaconference,andwhenIsendhimacapablesubstitute,forye’reallthat,Duncan,thoughyouryearsarebutfew,heanswersmewithariddle.”
“Hemayhavethoughtlessfavorablyofthesubstitute,mydearsir;andyouwillrememberthattheinvitation,whichhenowrepeats,wastothecommandantoftheworks,andnottohissecond.”
“Well,sir,isnotasubstituteclothedwithallthepoweranddignityofhimwhograntsthecommission?HewishestoconferwithMunro!
Faith,sir,Ihavemuchinclinationtoindulgetheman,ifitshouldonlybetolethimbeholdthefirmcountenancewemaintaininspiteofhisnumbersandhissummons.
Theremightbenotbadpolicyinsuchastroke,youngman.”
Duncan,whobelieveditofthelastimportancethattheyshouldspeedilycometothecontentsoftheletterbornebythescout,gladlyencouragedthisidea.
“Withoutdoubt,hecouldgathernoconfidencebywitnessingourindifference,”hesaid.
“Youneversaidtruerword.Icouldwish,sir,thathewouldvisittheworksinopenday,andintheformofastormingparty;thatistheleastfailingmethodofprovingthecountenanceofanenemy,andwouldbefarpreferabletothebatteringsystemhehaschosen.
Thebeautyandmanlinessofwarfarehasbeenmuchdeformed,MajorHeyward,bytheartsofyourMonsieurVauban.
Ourancestorswerefarabovesuchscientificcowardice!”
“Itmaybeverytrue,sir;butwearenowobligedtorepelartbyart.Whatisyourpleasureinthematteroftheinterview?”
“IwillmeettheFrenchman,andthatwithoutfearordelay;promptly,sir,asbecomesaservantofmyroyalmaster.
Go,MajorHeyward,andgivethemaflourishofthemusic;andsendoutamessengertoletthemknowwhoiscoming.
Wewillfollowwithasmallguard,forsuchrespectisduetoonewhoholdsthehonorofhiskinginkeeping;andhark’ee,Duncan,”headded,inahalfwhisper,thoughtheywerealone,“itmaybeprudenttohavesomeaidathand,incasethereshouldbetreacheryatthebottomofitall.”
Theyoungmanavailedhimselfofthisordertoquittheapartment;and,asthedaywasfastcomingtoaclose,hehastenedwithoutdelay,tomakethenecessaryarrangements.
Averyfewminutesonlywerenecessarytoparadeafewfiles,andtodispatchanorderlywithaflagtoannouncetheapproachofthecommandantofthefort.
WhenDuncanhaddoneboththese,heledtheguardtothesally–port,nearwhichhefoundhissuperiorready,waitinghisappearance.
Assoonastheusualceremonialsofamilitarydeparturewereobserved,theveteranandhismoreyouthfulcompanionleftthefortress,attendedbytheescort.
Theyhadproceededonlyahundredyardsfromtheworks,whenthelittlearraywhichattendedtheFrenchgeneraltotheconferencewasseenissuingfromthehollowwaywhichformedthebedofabrookthatranbetweenthebatteriesofthebesiegersandthefort.
FromthemomentthatMunrolefthisownworkstoappearinfrontofhisenemy’s,hisairhadbeengrand,andhisstepandcountenancehighlymilitary.
TheinstanthecaughtaglimpseofthewhiteplumethatwavedinthehatofMontcalm,hiseyelighted,andagenolongerappearedtopossessanyinfluenceoverhisvastandstillmuscularperson.
“Speaktotheboystobewatchful,sir,”hesaid,inanundertone,toDuncan;“andtolookwelltotheirflintsandsteel,foroneisneversafewithaservantoftheseLouis’s;atthesametime,weshallshowthemthefrontofmenindeepsecurity.Ye’llunderstandme,MajorHeyward!”
HewasinterruptedbytheclamorofadrumfromtheapproachingFrenchmen,whichwasimmediatelyanswered,wheneachpartypushedanorderlyinadvance,bearingawhiteflag,andthewaryScotsmanhaltedwithhisguardcloseathisback.
Assoonasthisslightsalutationhadpassed,Montcalmmovedtowardthemwithaquickbutgracefulstep,baringhisheadtotheveteran,anddroppinghisspotlessplumenearlytotheearthincourtesy.
IftheairofMunrowasmorecommandingandmanly,itwantedboththeeaseandinsinuatingpolishofthatoftheFrenchman.
Neitherspokeforafewmoments,eachregardingtheotherwithcuriousandinterestedeyes.
Then,asbecamehissuperiorrankandthenatureoftheinterview,Montcalmbrokethesilence.
Afterutteringtheusualwordsofgreeting,heturnedtoDuncan,andcontinued,withasmileofrecognition,speakingalwaysinFrench:
“Iamrejoiced,monsieur,thatyouhavegivenusthepleasureofyourcompanyonthisoccasion.
Therewillbenonecessitytoemployanordinaryinterpreter;for,inyourhands,IfeelthesamesecurityasifIspokeyourlanguagemyself.”
Duncanacknowledgedthecompliment,whenMontcalm,turningtohisguard,whichinimitationofthatoftheirenemies,pressedcloseuponhim,continued:
“Enarriere,mesenfants—ilfaitchaud—–retirez–vousunpeu.”
BeforeMajorHeywardwouldimitatethisproofofconfidence,heglancedhiseyesaroundtheplain,andbeheldwithuneasinessthenumerousduskygroupsofsavages,wholookedoutfromthemarginofthesurroundingwoods,curiousspectatorsoftheinterview.
“MonsieurdeMontcalmwillreadilyacknowledgethedifferenceinoursituation,”hesaid,withsomeembarrassment,pointingatthesametimetowardthosedangerousfoes,whoweretobeseeninalmosteverydirection.
“Werewetodismissourguard,weshouldstandhereatthemercyofourenemies.”
“Monsieur,youhavetheplightedfaithof‘ungentilhommeFrancais’,foryoursafety,”returnedMontcalm,layinghishandimpressivelyonhisheart;“itshouldsuffice.”
“Itshall.Fallback,”Duncanaddedtotheofficerwholedtheescort;“fallback,sir,beyondhearing,andwaitfororders.”
Munrowitnessedthismovementwithmanifestuneasiness;nordidhefailtodemandaninstantexplanation.
“Isitnotourinterest,sir,tobetraydistrust?”retortedDuncan.
“MonsieurdeMontcalmpledgeshiswordforoursafety,andIhaveorderedthementowithdrawalittle,inordertoprovehowmuchwedependonhisassurance.”
“Itmaybeallright,sir,butIhavenooverweeningrelianceonthefaithofthesemarquesses,ormarquis,astheycallthemselves.
Theirpatentsofnobilityaretoocommontobecertainthattheybearthesealoftruehonor.”
“Youforget,dearsir,thatweconferwithanofficer,distinguishedalikeinEuropeandAmericaforhisdeeds.Fromasoldierofhisreputationwecanhavenothingtoapprehend.”
Theoldmanmadeagestureofresignation,thoughhisrigidfeaturesstillbetrayedhisobstinateadherencetoadistrust,whichhederivedfromasortofhereditarycontemptofhisenemy,ratherthanfromanypresentsignswhichmightwarrantsouncharitableafeeling.
Montcalmwaitedpatientlyuntilthislittledialogueindemi–voicewasended,whenhedrewnigher,andopenedthesubjectoftheirconference.
“Ihavesolicitedthisinterviewfromyoursuperior,monsieur,”hesaid,“becauseIbelievehewillallowhimselftobepersuadedthathehasalreadydoneeverythingwhichisnecessaryforthehonorofhisprince,andwillnowlistentotheadmonitionsofhumanity.
Iwillforeverbeartestimonythathisresistancehasbeengallant,andwascontinuedaslongastherewashope.”
WhenthisopeningwastranslatedtoMunro,heansweredwithdignity,butwithsufficientcourtesy:
“HoweverImayprizesuchtestimonyfromMonsieurMontcalm,itwillbemorevaluablewhenitshallbebettermerited.”
TheFrenchgeneralsmiled,asDuncangavehimthepurportofthisreply,andobserved:
“Whatisnowsofreelyaccordedtoapprovedcourage,mayberefusedtouselessobstinacy.
Monsieurwouldwishtoseemycamp,andwitnessforhimselfournumbers,andtheimpossibilityofhisresistingthemwithsuccess?”
“IknowthatthekingofFranceiswellserved,”returnedtheunmovedScotsman,assoonasDuncanendedhistranslation;“butmyownroyalmasterhasasmanyandasfaithfultroops.”
“Thoughnotathand,fortunatelyforus,”saidMontcalm,withoutwaiting,inhisardor,fortheinterpreter.
“Thereisadestinyinwar,towhichabravemanknowshowtosubmitwiththesamecouragethathefaceshisfoes.”
“HadIbeenconsciousthatMonsieurMontcalmwasmasteroftheEnglish,Ishouldhavesparedmyselfthetroubleofsoawkwardatranslation,”saidthevexedDuncan,dryly;rememberinginstantlyhisrecentby–playwithMunro.
“Yourpardon,monsieur,”rejoinedtheFrenchman,sufferingaslightcolortoappearonhisdarkcheek.
“Thereisavastdifferencebetweenunderstandingandspeakingaforeigntongue;youwill,therefore,pleasetoassistmestill.”
Then,afterashortpause,headded:“Thesehillsafforduseveryopportunityofreconnoiteringyourworks,messieurs,andIampossiblyaswellacquaintedwiththeirweakconditionasyoucanbeyourselves.”
“AsktheFrenchgeneralifhisglassescanreachtotheHudson,”saidMunro,proudly;“andifheknowswhenandwheretoexpectthearmyofWebb.”
“LetGeneralWebbbehisowninterpreter,”returnedthepoliticMontcalm,suddenlyextendinganopenlettertowardMunroashespoke;“youwilltherelearn,monsieur,thathismovementsarenotlikelytoproveembarrassingtomyarmy.”
Theveteranseizedtheofferedpaper,withoutwaitingforDuncantotranslatethespeech,andwithaneagernessthatbetrayedhowimportanthedeemeditscontents.
Ashiseyepassedhastilyoverthewords,hiscountenancechangedfromitslookofmilitarypridetooneofdeepchagrin;hislipbegantoquiver;andsufferingthepapertofallfromhishand,hisheaddroppeduponhischest,likethatofamanwhosehopeswerewitheredatasingleblow.
Duncancaughttheletterfromtheground,andwithoutapologyforthelibertyhetook,hereadataglanceitscruelpurport.
Theircommonsuperior,sofarfromencouragingthemtoresist,advisedaspeedysurrender,urgingintheplainestlanguage,asareason,theutterimpossibilityofhissendingasinglemantotheirrescue.
“Hereisnodeception!”exclaimedDuncan,examiningthebilletbothinsideandout;“thisisthesignatureofWebb,andmustbethecapturedletter.”
“Themanhasbetrayedme!”Munroatlengthbitterlyexclaimed;“hehasbroughtdishonortothedoorofonewheredisgracewasneverbeforeknowntodwell,andshamehasheheapedheavilyonmygrayhairs.”
“Saynotso,”criedDuncan;“weareyetmastersofthefort,andofourhonor.Letus,then,sellourlivesatsucharateasshallmakeourenemiesbelievethepurchasetoodear.”
“Boy,Ithankthee,”exclaimedtheoldman,rousinghimselffromhisstupor;“youhave,foronce,remindedMunroofhisduty.Wewillgoback,anddigourgravesbehindthoseramparts.”
“Messieurs,”saidMontcalm,advancingtowardthemastep,ingenerousinterest,“youlittleknowLouisdeSt.Veranifyoubelievehimcapableofprofitingbythislettertohumblebravemen,ortobuildupadishonestreputationforhimself.
Listentomytermsbeforeyouleaveme.”
“WhatsaystheFrenchman?”demandedtheveteran,sternly;“doeshemakeameritofhavingcapturedascout,withanotefromheadquarters?
Sir,hehadbetterraisethissiege,togoandsitdownbeforeEdwardifhewishestofrightenhisenemywithwords.”
Duncanexplainedtheother’smeaning.
“MonsieurdeMontcalm,wewillhearyou,”theveteranadded,morecalmly,asDuncanended.
“Toretainthefortisnowimpossible,”saidhisliberalenemy;“itisnecessarytotheinterestsofmymasterthatitshouldbedestroyed;butasforyourselvesandyourbravecomrades,thereisnoprivilegedeartoasoldierthatshallbedenied.”
“Ourcolors?”demandedHeyward.
“CarrythemtoEngland,andshowthemtoyourking.”
“Ourarms?”
“Keepthem;nonecanusethembetter.”
“Ourmarch;thesurrenderoftheplace?”
“Shallallbedoneinawaymosthonorabletoyourselves.”
Duncannowturnedtoexplaintheseproposalstohiscommander,whoheardhimwithamazement,andasensibilitythatwasdeeplytouchedbysounusualandunexpectedgenerosity.
“Goyou,Duncan,”hesaid;“gowiththismarquess,as,indeed,marquessheshouldbe;gotohismarqueeandarrangeitall.
IhavelivedtoseetwothingsinmyoldagethatneverdidIexpecttobehold.
AnEnglishmanafraidtosupportafriend,andaFrenchmantoohonesttoprofitbyhisadvantage.”
Sosaying,theveteranagaindroppedhisheadtohischest,andreturnedslowlytowardthefort,exhibiting,bythedejectionofhisair,totheanxiousgarrison,aharbingerofeviltidings.
FromtheshockofthisunexpectedblowthehaughtyfeelingsofMunroneverrecovered;butfromthatmomenttherecommencedachangeinhisdeterminedcharacter,whichaccompaniedhimtoaspeedygrave.
Duncanremainedtosettlethetermsofthecapitulation.
Hewasseentore–entertheworksduringthefirstwatchesofthenight,andimmediatelyafteraprivateconferencewiththecommandant,toleavethemagain.
Itwasthenopenlyannouncedthathostilitiesmustcease—Munrohavingsignedatreatybywhichtheplacewastobeyieldedtotheenemy,withthemorning;thegarrisontoretaintheirarms,thecolorsandtheirbaggage,and,consequently,accordingtomilitaryopinion,theirhonor.
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