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Chapter 16
Theirpatentsofnobilityaretoocommontobecertainthattheybearthesealoftruehonor."
"Youforget,dearsir,thatweconferwithanofficerdistinguishedalikeinEuropeandAmericaforhisdeeds.Fromasoldierofhisreputationwecanhavenothingtoapprehend."
Theoldmanmadeagestureofresignation,thoughhisrigidfeaturesstillbetrayedhisobstinateadherencetoadistrust,whichhederivedfromasortofhereditarycontemptofhisenemy,ratherthanfromanypresentsignswhichmightwarrantsouncharitableafeeling.Montcalmwaitedpatientlyuntilthislittledialogueindemi-voicewasended,whenhedrewnigher,andopenedthesubjectoftheirconference.
"Ihavesolicitedthisinterviewfromyoursuperior,monsieur,"hesaid,"becauseIbelievehewillallowhimselftobepersuadedthathehasalreadydoneeverythingwhichisnecessaryforthehonorofhisprince,andwillnotlistentotheadmonitionsofhumanity.Iwillforeverbeartestimonythathisresistancehasbeengallant,andwascontinuedaslongastherewashope."
WhenthisopeningwastranslatedtoMunro,heansweredwithdignity,butwithsufficientcourtesy—
"HoweverImayprizesuchtestimonyfromMonsieurMontcalm,itwillbemorevaluablewhenitshallbebettermerited."
TheFrenchgeneralsmiled,asDuncangavehimthepurportofthisreply,andobserved—
"Whatisnowsofreelyaccordedtoapprovedcourage,mayberefusedtouselessobstinacy.
