Page:The last of the Mohicans (1826 Volume 2).djvu/93

 was wrong, Duncan, boy, I was wrong there, and I am now ready to hear what you have to say."

"Notwithstanding the pleasure your assurance gives me, dear sir, I have, just now, a message from Montcalm—"

"Let the Frenchman and all his host go to the devil, sir!" exclaimed the veteran, frowning severely. "He is not yet master of William Henry, nor shall he ever be, provided Webb proves himself the man he should. No, sir! thank heaven, we are not yet in such a strait that it can be said Munro is too much pressed to discharge the little domestic duties of his own family! Your mother was the only child of my bosom friend, Duncan; and I'll just give you a hearing, though all the knights of St. Louis were in a body at the sally port, with the French saint at their head, craving to speak a word under favour. A pretty degree of knighthood, sir, is that which can be bought with sugar-hogs heads! and then your twopenny marquessates! The Thistle is the order for dignity and antiquity; the veritable 'nemo me