Останній з Могікан
Chapter 16
Duncanacknowledgedthecompliment,whenMontcalm,turningtohisguard,which,inimitationofthatoftheirenemies,pressedcloseuponhim,continued—
"Enarrière,mesenfans—ilfaitchaud;retirez-vousunpeu."
BeforeMajorHeywardwouldimitatethisproofofconfidence,heglancedhiseyesaroundtheplain,andbeheldwithuneasinessthenumerousduskygroupsofsavages,wholookedoutfromthemarginofthesurroundingwoods,curiousspectatorsoftheinterview.
"MonsieurdeMontcalmwillreadilyacknowledgethedifferenceinoursituation,"hesaid,withsomeembarrassment,pointingatthesametimetowardsthosedangerousfoes,whoweretobeseeninalmosteverydirection."Werewetodismissourguard,weshouldstandhereatthemercyofourenemies."
"Monsieur,youhavetheplightedfaithofungentilhommeFrançais;foryoursafety,"returnedMontcalm,layinghishandimpressivelyonhisheart;"itshouldsuffice."
"Itshall.Fallback,"Duncanaddedtotheofficerwholedtheescort;"fallback,sir,beyondhearing,andwaitfororders."
Munrowitnessedthismovementwithmanifestuneasiness;nordidhefailtodemandaninstantexplanation.
"Isitnotourinterest,sir,tobetraynodistrust?"retortedDuncan."MonsieurdeMontcalmpledgeshiswordforoursafety,andIhaveorderedthementowithdrawalittle,inordertoprovehowmuchwedependonhisassurance."
"Itmaybeallright,sir,butIhavenooverweeningrelianceonthefaithofthesemarquesses,ormarquis,astheycallthemselves.
