All that talk was left
behind in the timber, as Big Hand ordered. Tell the Lame Chief there
will be no war. He can go back to France with that word."

'Talleyrand and me hadn't met for a long time except at _emigre_
parties. When I give him the message he just shook his head. He was
sorting buttons in the shop.

'"I cannot return to France with nothing better than the word of an
unsophisticated savage," he says.

'"Hasn't the President said anything to you?" I asked him.

'"He has said everything that one in his position ought to say, but--but
if only I had what he said to his Cabinet after Genet rode off I believe
I could change Europe--the world, maybe."

'"I'm sorry," I says. "Maybe you'll do that without my help."

'He looked at me hard. "Either you have unusual observation for one so
young, or you choose to be insolent," he says.

'"It was intended for a compliment," I says. "But no odds. We're off in
a few days for our summer trip, and I've come to make my good-byes."

'"I go on my travels too," he says. "If ever we meet again you may be
sure I will do my best to repay what I owe you."

'"Without malice, abbe, I hope," I says.

'"None whatever," says he. "Give my respects to your adorable Dr.
Pangloss (that was one of his side-names for Toby) and the Huron." I
never _could_ teach him the difference betwixt Hurons and Senecas.

'Then Sister Haga came in for a paper of what we call "pilly buttons,"
and that was the last I saw of Talleyrand in those parts.'

'But after that you met Napoleon, didn't you?' said Una.

'Wait just a little, dearie. After that, Toby and I went to Lebanon and
the Reservation, and, being older and knowing better how to manage him,
I enjoyed myself well that summer with fiddling and fun. When we came
back, the Brethren got after Toby because I wasn't learning any lawful
trade, and he had hard work to save me from being apprenticed to
Helmbold and Geyer the printers. 'Twould have ruined our music together,
indeed it would; and when we escaped that, old Mattes Roush, the
leather-breeches maker round the corner, took a notion I was cut out for
skin-dressing. But we were rescued. Along towards Christmas there comes
a big sealed letter from the Bank saying that a Monsieur Talleyrand had
put five hundred dollars--a hundred pounds--to my credit there to use as
I pleased. There was a little note from him inside--he didn't give any
address--to thank me for past kindnesses and my believin