s. This man was not ignorant that M. Grandmaison, who had reached
Loreto, awaited there with impatience the arrival of his children. A
letter in my possession even proves that my father-in-law, informed that
the negro Joachim was at Omaguas, advised Tristan to repair thither and
bring him forward; but neither Tristan nor M. R. thought fit to satisfy
him, and so far from complying with his request, M. R., of his own
accord, sent the negro back to Quito, keeping the property he had
brought back with him.

You know, Sir, that Laguna is not situate on the Amazons, but some
leagues up the Guallaga, a tributary of the former river. Joachim,
dismissed by M. R., did not in course proceed to Laguna in search of his
mistress, whom he imagined dead, but returned to Quito, and thus have we
lost his services. You will certainly be far from guessing the excuse of
M. R. for sending away a faithful servant, who was so much wanted by us.
"I was afraid," said he in answer to this inquiry, "that he would murder
me."--"What," replied I, "could have given birth to a suspicion of such
intention in a man whose zeal and fidelity were so well known to you,
and with whom you so long had travelled? If you apprehended he might
dislike you, from imputing the death of his mistress to your negligence,
what prevented your sending him forward to M. Grandmaison, who exacted
this of you, and who was so nigh at hand? At least, what hindered your
putting him in prison? You lodged with the governor of Omaguas, who
would readily have complied, had you made him such a request."

In the mean time, Madame Godin, with the canoe and crew from Andoas, had
reached Laguna, where they were received with the greatest politeness by
Dr Romero, the new chief of the missions, who, by his kind treatment
during six weeks that she remained with him, did much towards
reestablishing her health, but too much impaired, and making her forget
her misfortunes. The first care of this respectable character was, to
forward an express to the governor of Omaguas, to inform him of the
arrival of Madame Godin, and the languid state of her health. Upon this
intelligence, M. R. could do no less, having promised to render her his
services, than hasten to join her, bringing with him four silver dishes,
a silver saucepan, a velvet petticoat, one of Persiana, and one of
taffety, some linen, and other trifles, belonging to her brothers as
well as herself; adding, that all the rest were rotten, f