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Chapter 15
"MajorHeyward,"saidMunro,turningtohisyouthfulassociatewiththedignityofhisyearsandsuperiorrank;"Ishouldhaveservedhismajestyforhalfacentury,andearnedthesegrayhairs,invain,wereIignorantofallyousay,andofthepressingnatureofourcircumstances;still,thereiseverythingduetothehonoroftheking’sarmsandsomethingtoourselves.Whilethereishopeofsuccor,thisfortresswillIdefend,thoughitbetobedonewithpebblesgatheredonthelakeshore.Itisasightoftheletter,therefore,thatwewant,thatwemayknowtheintentionsofthemantheEarlofLoudonhasleftamongusashissubstitute."
"AndcanIbeofserviceinthematter?"
"Sir,youcan;theMarquisofMontcalmhas,inadditiontohisothercivilities,invitedmetoapersonalinterviewbetweentheworksandhisowncamp;inorder,ashesays,toimpartsomeadditionalinformation.Now,Ithinkitwouldnotbewisetoshowanyunduesolicitudetomeethim,andIwouldemployyou,anofficerofrank,asmysubstitute;foritwouldbutillcomportwiththehonorofScotlandtoletitbesaidoneofhergentlemenwasoutdoneincivilitybyanativeofanyothercountryonearth."
Withoutassumingthesupererogatorytaskofenteringintoadiscussionofthecomparativemeritsofnationalcourtesy,Duncancheerfullyassentedtosupplytheplaceoftheveteranintheapproachinginterview.
