Your hunters, your traders and your surveyors pressed forward into the Ohio country, which is ours." He looked at them as if he expected them to challenge the French claim to the Ohio regions, but they were wisely silent.
"The letters do not demand an immediate reply," he continued.

"His Excellency prays me to consider.

Perhaps I shall send one later through a trusted messenger by sloop or schooner to New York, and naturally, I shall choose one of my own officers." "Naturally, my lord," said Robert.

"We did not expect to take back the answer." The Marquis Duquesne looked at him very keenly.
"You speak as if you were relieved at not having the errand," he said.
"Perhaps there is something else on your mind which you wish to do and with which such a mission would interfere." Robert was silent and the Marquis laughed.
"I will not press the question, because I've no right to do so," he said.

"But I will let it remain an inference." Then his eye rested upon Tayoga, at whom he looked long and searchingly, and the eye of the Onondaga met him with an answering gaze, fixed and unfaltering.
"Captain de Galisonniere has told me," said the Marquis, "that you are a young chief, or coming chief, of the Iroquois, that despite your youth you have thought much and have influence with your people.