red to be a hunter, and who claimed to be one, was such a
master of the weapon as had never before appeared in New France. And it
was said by the French officers that his equal could not be found in
old France either. The interest aroused by his fame was increased by the
mystery that enshrouded him, and they gave him an attention that was not
at all hostile. In truth, it was strongly compounded with admiration. A
man who had removed Pierre Boucher as he had done, was to be regarded
with respect. Boucher had given every promise of becoming a public
danger in Quebec, and perhaps they owed gratitude to the hunter,
Bostonnais though he was.

Late in the afternoon they had word that the Marquis Duquesne had come
and would receive them. Again they arrayed themselves with the greatest
care, and took their way to the Castle of St. Louis. They found a man
very different in appearance and manner from the Intendant, Bigot. Tall,
austere, belonging to a race that was reckoned very noble in France, the
Marquis Duquesne was not popular in New France. He had none of the
geniality and easy generosity of Bigot, as he spent his own money, but
he had shown a military energy and foresight which the British governors
to the south were far from imitating. While Canada did not love him, it
respected him and his boldness, and his daring and foresight had deeply
impressed the powerful Indian tribes whose friendship and alliance were
so important in the coming war.

The manner of the Marquis was high, when he received the three in his
chamber of audience, but it was not deficient in courtesy. He looked
intently at each of them in turn.

"You come, so I am told, from the Governor of New York," he said, "and
judging from what I have heard he has chosen messengers who are able to
make a stir. Two days in Quebec and already you have fought two duels,
one of them ending fatally."

"My lord," said Willet, gravely, "they were not of our seeking."

"That also, I hear. They tell me, too, Mr. Willet, that you are an
incomparable swordsman, and it must be true, or you would not have been
able to defeat Boucher. But that matter is adjusted. You will not be
held here because of his death. It seems that the Intendant, Monsieur
Bigot himself, does not wish to carry it further. But the letters from
the Governor of New York?"

"Mr. Lennox has them," said Willet.

Robert bowed and took from an inner pocket of his waistcoat the letters
he had carried throu