Останній з Могікан
Chapter 16
"Well,sir,isnotasubstituteclothedwithallthepoweranddignityofhimwhograntsthecommission?HewishestoconferwithMunro!Faith,sir,Ihavemuchinclinationtoindulgetheman,ifitshouldonlybetolethimbeholdthefirmcountenancewemaintaininspiteofhisnumbersandhissummons.Theremightbenobadpolicyinsuchastroke,youngman."
Duncan,whobelieveditofthelastimportancethattheyshouldspeedilycomeatthecontentsoftheletterbornebythescout,gladlyencouragedthisidea.
"Withoutdoubt,hecouldgathernoconfidencebywitnessingourindifference,"hesaid.
"Youneversaidtruerword.Icouldwish,sir,thathewouldvisittheworksinopenday,andintheformofastormingparty:thatistheleastfailingmethodofprovingthecountenanceofanenemy,andwouldbefarpreferabletothebatteringsystemhehaschosen.Thebeautyandmanlinessofwarfarehasbeenmuchdeformed,MajorHeyward,bytheartsofyourMonsieurVauban.Ourancestorswerefarabovesuchscientificcowardice!"
"Itmaybeverytrue,sir;butwearenowobligedtorepelartbyart.Whatisyourpleasureinthematteroftheinterview?"
"IwillmeettheFrenchman,andthatwithoutfearordelay;promptly;sir,asbecomesaservantofmyroyalmaster.Go,MajorHeyward,andgivethemaflourishofthemusic;andsendoutamessengertoletthemknowwhoiscoming.
