Gering brought
not Radisson here, and I should beware that man. A traitor is ever a
traitor. He is French, too, and as a good Englishman you should hate all
Frenchmen, should you not?"
"Merciless witch! Where got you that wit? If I must, I kneel;" and he
groaned in mock despair. "And if Monsieur Iberville should come knocking
at our door you would have me welcome him lovingly?"
"Surely; there is peace, is there not? Has not the king, because of his
love for Louis commanded all goodwill between us and Canada?"
The governor laughed bitterly. "Much pity that he has! how can we live
at peace with buccaneers?" Their talk was interrupted here; but a few
days later, in the same garden, Morris came to them. "A ship enters
harbour," he said, "and its commander sends this letter."
An instant after the governor turned a troubled face on the girl and
said: "Your counsel of the other day is put to rapid test, Jessica.
This comes from monsieur, who would pay his respects to me."
He handed the note to her. It said that Iberville had brought prisoners
whom he was willing to exchange for French prisoners in the governor's
hands.
Entering New York harbour with a single vessel showed in a strong light
Iberville's bold, almost reckless, courage. The humour of it was not
lost on Jessica, though she turned pale, and the paper fluttered in her
fingers.
"What will you do?" she said.
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