"You are very welcome, Messieurs," she answered, with the same
delightful accent which her daughter had used, "and you are especially
welcome from such a source. The friends of Colonel Chouteau and of
Monsieur Gratiot are our friends. You will remain with us, I hope,
Messieurs," she continued. "Monsieur de Saint-Gre will return in a few
days at best."

"By your leave, Madame, I will go to New Orleans at once and try to find
Monsieur," I said, "for I have business with him."

"You will return with him, I hope," said Madame.

I bowed.

"And Mr. Temple will remain?" she asked, with a questioning look at
Nick.

"With the greatest pleasure in the world, Madame," he answered, and
there was no mistaking his sincerity. As he spoke, Mademoiselle turned
her back on him.

I would not wait for dinner, but pausing only for a sip of cool Madeira
and some other refreshment, I made my farewells to the ladies. As I
started out of the door to find Benjy, who had been waiting for more
than an hour, Mademoiselle gave me a neatly folded note.

"You will be so kind as to present that to my father, Monsieur," she
said.

CHAPTER XIII. MONSIEUR AUGUSTE ENTRAPPED

It may be well to declare here and now that I do not intend to burden
this story with the business which had brought me to New Orleans. While
in the city during the next few days I met a young gentleman named
Daniel Clark, a nephew of that Mr. Clark of whom I have spoken. Many
years after the time of which I write this Mr. Daniel Clark the younger,
who became a rich merchant and an able man of affairs, published a book
which sets forth with great clearness proofs of General Wilkinson's
duplicity and treason, and these may be read by any who would satisfy
himself further on the subject. Mr. Wharton had not believed, nor had
I flattered myself that I should be able to bring such a fox as General
Wilkinson to earth. Abundant circumstantial evidence I obtained:
Wilkinson's intimacy with Miro was well known, and I likewise learned
that a cipher existed between them. The permit to trade given by Miro to
Wilkinson was made no secret of. In brief, I may say that I discovered
as much as could be discovered by any one without arousing suspicion,
and that the information with which I returned to Kentucky was of some
material value to my employers.

I have to thank Monsieur Philippe de St. Gre for a great deal. And I
take this opportunity to set down the fact that I have rarely m