And why did you let him go, sir, when you had him at such a vantage ?" "I believed his promise." "You must be of a trusting nature." "I have been used to deal with Indians." "Heh! And you think an Indian's word is better than that of an officer in the king's dragoons ?" "I did not think so an hour ago." "Hem!" Conde took a large pinch of snuff, and brushed the wandering grains from his velvet coat with his handkerchief of point.
"You are very strong, monsieur," said he, glancing keenly at the broad shoulders and arching chest of the young stranger.

"You are from Canada, I presume ?" "I have been there, sir.

But I am from New York." Conde shook his head.

"An island ?" "No, sir; a town." "In what province ?" "The province of New York." "The chief town, then ?" "Nay; Albany is the chief town." "And how came you to speak French ?" "My mother was of French blood." "And how long have you been in Paris ?" "A day." "Heh! And you already begin to throw your mother's country-folk out of windows!" "He was annoying a young maid, sir, and I asked him to stop, whereon he whipped out his sword, and would have slain me had I not closed with him, upon which he called upon his fellows to aid him.

To keep them off, I swore that I would drop him over if they moved a step.