Останній з Могікан
Chapter 16
Monsieurwouldwishtoseemycamp,andwitness,forhimself,ournumbers,andtheimpossibilityofhisresistingthem,withsuccess?"
"IknowthatthekingofFranceiswellserved,"returnedtheunmovedScotsman,assoonasDuncanendedhistranslation;"butmyownroyalmasterhasasmanyandasfaithfultroops."
"Thoughnotathand,fortunatelyforus,"saidMontcalm,withoutwaiting,inhisardor,fortheinterpreter."Thereisadestinyinwar,towhichabravemanknowshowtosubmit,withthesamecouragethathefaceshisfoes."
"HadIbeenconsciousthatMonsieurMontcalmwasmasteroftheEnglish,Ishouldhavesparedmyselfthetroubleofsoawkwardatranslation,"saidthevexedDuncan,dryly;rememberinginstantlyhisrecentby-playwithMunro.
"Yourpardon,monsieur,"rejoinedtheFrenchman,sufferingaslightcolortoappearonhisdarkcheek."Thereisavastdifferencebetweenunderstandingandspeakingaforeigntongue;youwill,therefore,pleasetoassistmestill."Thenafterashortpause,headded,"Thesehillsafforduseveryopportunityofreconnoitringyourworks,messieurs,andIampossiblyaswellacquaintedwiththeirweakconditionasyoucanbeyourselves."
"AsktheFrenchgeneralifhisglassescanreachtotheHudson,"saidMunro,proudly;"andifheknowswhenandwheretoexpectthearmyofWebb."
