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           "Speaktotheboystobewatchful,sir,"hesaid,inanundertone,toDuncan;"andtolookwelltotheirflintsandsteel,foroneisneversafewithaservantoftheseLouises;atthesametime,wewillshowthemthefrontofmenindeepsecurity.Ye’llunderstandme,MajorHeyward!"

           HewasinterruptedbytheclamorofadrumfromtheapproachingFrenchmen,whichwasimmediatelyanswered,wheneachpartypushedanorderlyinadvance,bearingawhiteflag,andthewaryScotsmanhalted,withhisguardcloseathisback.Assoonasthisslightsalutationhadpassed,Montcalmmovedtowardsthemwithaquickbutgracefulstep,baringhisheadtotheveteran,anddroppinghisspotlessplumenearlytotheearthincourtesy.IftheairofMunrowasmorecommandingandmanly,itwantedboththeeaseandinsinuatingpolishofthatoftheFrenchman.Neitherspokeforafewmoments,eachregardingtheotherwithcuriousandinterestedeyes.Then,asbecamehissuperiorrankandthenatureoftheinterview,Montcalmbrokethesilence.Afterutteringtheusualwordsofgreeting,heturnedtoDuncan,andcontinuedwithasmileofrecognition,speakingalwaysinFrench—

           "Iamrejoiced,monsieur,thatyouhavegivenusthepleasureofyourcompanyonthisoccasion.Therewillbenonecessitytoemployanordinaryinterpreter;for,inyourhands,IfeelthesamesecurityasifIspokeyourlanguagemyself."