The Grey Cloak - Page 224/256

The fort had four large compartments which consisted of a mess-room

already described, a living-room, general sleeping quarters for the

Jesuit Fathers, lay brothers and officers, and a large room for stores.

A roomy loft extended over the mess-room, to be resumed again over the

sleeping quarters, the living-room being situated between. Unknown to

the Iroquois, a carpenter's shop had been established in the loft for

the purpose of constructing some boats.

From the living-room there came to the Chevalier the murmur of voices,

sometimes a laugh. He was unaware of how much time passed. He was

conscious only of the voices, the occasional laugh, and the shining

pieces of silver in his hand. The perpendicular furrow above his nose

grew deeper and deeper, the line of his lips grew thinner and thinner,

and the muscles of his jaws became and remained hard and square.

Presently he shook his head as a lion shakes his when about to leap.

He righted the corporal's chair and pushed his own under the table. He

had forgotten his hunger. With the coin closed tightly in his fist, he

started toward the door which gave into the living-room. He stopped

still when his foot touched the threshold, and leaned against the jamb,

gloomily surveying the occupants of the room. He saw Victor seated at

his table, making corrections on the pages of what was to be his book

of lore. Father Chaumonot and Brother Jacques shared the table with

the poet, and both were reading. The gentlemen who had been forced

either by poverty or the roving hand of adventure to take parts in this

mission drama were gathered before the fire, discussing the days of

prosperity and the court of Louis XIII. A few feet from the poet's

table stood another, and round this sat Major du Puys, Nicot, and the

vicomte, engaged in a friendly game of dominoes. D'Hérouville,

Corporal Frémin, Jean Pauquet and a settler named The Fox, were not

among the assemblage.

Victor saw his friend, nodded and smiled. But the Chevalier did not

return the smile. Had Victor looked closer he would have seen the pall

of impending tragedy on the Chevalier's darkened brow.

"Ha!" said the vicomte, as he stirred the dominoes about; "there you

are, Chevalier. Come and take a hand." He smiled encouragingly.

The Chevalier went slowly toward the table, never taking his eyes from

the vicomte's face. When he finally stood beside the vicomte's stool,

he stretched out his arm and opened his hand.

"Monsieur le Vicomte," he said, "do you recognize these ten pieces of

silver?"

Not a man among them all but felt the ice of a chill strike his spine

at the sound of the Chevalier's voice. Every head in the room turned.

"Recognize?" The vicomte looked from the hand to the owner's face upon

which lay a purpose as calm and relentless as it was deadly.

"Recognize? What do you mean, Monsieur?"