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Chapter 15
TheMarquisofMontcalmwas,attheperiodofwhichwewrite,intheflowerofhisage,and,itmaybeadded,inthezenithofhisfortunes.But,eveninthatenviablesituation,hewasaffable,anddistinguishedasmuchforhisattentiontotheformsofcourtesy,asforthatchivalrouscouragewhich,onlytwoshortyearsafterwards,inducedhimtothrowawayhislifeontheplainsofAbraham.Duncan,inturninghiseyesfromthemalignexpressionofMagua,sufferedthemtorestwithpleasureonthesmilingandpolishedfeatures,andthenoblemilitaryair,oftheFrenchgeneral.
"Monsieur,"saidthelatter,"j’aibeaucoupdeplaisirà—bah!—oùestcetinterprête?"
"Jecrois,monsieur,qu’ilneserapasnécessaire,"Heywardmodestlyreplied;"jeparleunpeuFrançais."
"Ah!j’ensuisbienaise,"saidMontcalm,takingDuncanfamiliarlybythearm,andleadinghimdeepintothemarquee,alittleoutofear-shot;"jedétestecesfripons-là;onnesaitjamaissurquelpiéonestaveceux.Eh,bien!monsieur,"hecontinued,stillspeakinginFrench;"thoughIshouldhavebeenproudofreceivingyourcommandant,Iamveryhappythathehasseenpropertoemployanofficersodistinguished,andwho,Iamsure,issoamiable,asyourself."
