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           Heywardwassilent;forapainfulrecollectionofthedangershehadsorecentlyescapedcameoverhismind,andrecalledtheimagesofthosedefencelessbeingswhohadsharedinallhissufferings.

           "Cesmessieurs-là,"saidMontcalm,followinguptheadvantagewhichheconceivedhehadgained,"aremostformidablewhenbaffled:anditisunnecessarytotellyouwithwhatdifficultytheyarerestrainedintheiranger.Ehbien,monsieur!shallwespeakoftheterms?"

           "IfearyourexcellencyhasbeendeceivedastothestrengthofWilliamHenry,andtheresourcesofitsgarrison!"

           "IhavenotsatdownbeforeQuebec,butanearthenwork,thatisdefendedbytwenty-threehundredgallantmen,"wasthelaconicreply.

           "Ourmoundsareearthen,certainly—noraretheyseatedontherocksofCapeDiamond;buttheystandonthatshorewhichprovedsodestructivetoDieskauandhisarmy.Thereisalsoapowerfulforcewithinafewhours’marchofus,whichweaccountuponaspartofourmeans."

           "Somesixoreightthousandmen,"returnedMontcalm,withmuchapparentindifference,"whomtheirleaderwiselyjudgestobesaferintheirworksthaninthefield."

           ItwasnowHeyward’sturntobitehislipwithvexation,astheothersocoollyalludedtoaforcewhichtheyoungmanknewtobeoverrated.Bothmusedalittlewhileinsilence,whenMontcalmrenewedtheconversation,inawaythatshowedhebelievedthevisitofhisguestwassolelytoproposetermsofcapitulation