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Show 136 THE LlLY AN'D THE TOTEM. with the look of one who did not sympathize with their enjoyments. lie was feeble, dull, and only just reCO\'Cring from a sicklloss which bad nigh been fatal. Hi~ eye rested upon the river where lay the \'Csscl, the last remaining to his command, w!Jich, in two days more, was to be despatched for France. llo Lad just left her, and his course now lny for the deep woods, a D1ile or more inland. lie was followed, or rather accompanied, by a youth, apparently about nineteen or twenty years of age-a younger brother of D'Edach, his favorite lieutenant. This young man shared in the odium of his brother, os he also was supposed to enjoy too largely the favors of Laudonniere. The truth was, tllat he wru~ llluch more the favorite t11an his brother. He was a youth of great intelligence and S:tgacity, observing mind, quick wit, nnd shrewd, capacious remark. The slower thought of his commander was quickened by his intclligcnco, and relied, much more than the latter would have hccn willing to allow, upon the insinuated, rather than expressed, su&:,r.cstions of the youth. A lphonsc D'Erlach, but for his breadth of shoulders and activity of muscle, would have seemed delicately made. Jfo was certainly effeminately habitcd. He had a boyish love of ornament which was perhaps natural at his age, but it had been ob~crvcd that his brother Achille, though thirty-five, displayed something of a like passion. Our youth wore his dagger and J1is pistols, the former hung about l1is neck by a scarf, and the latter were stuck in the belt about his waist. The dagger was richly hilted , and tho pistols, t l10ugh of excellent structure, were rather more remarkable for the beauty of their ornaments than for their size and seeming usefulness as weapons for conflict. 11 And you think, Alphonse," said .Laudonniere, when they had TltE CONSPIRACY" OF LE CE:-1Rf:. 137 entered tl1c wood, "that Le GcnrC is really anxious to return to France in the Sylph." 11 I say nothin:; about his rctm·n to France, but that he will apply to you for tiJC command of the Sylph, I am ver"y ec;tain." "Well! And you?-" "\Vould let him have her." " Indeed! l am sorry, Alphonse, to hear you say so. Lo GcnrC is not fit for sucl1 a trust. lie has no judgment, no discret ion. It would be a hundred to one that he never reached Franco." "That is just my opinion," said the youth, coolly. ''Well! And with tl1is opinion, you would have me risk the vessel in bis lHmd;i" ' 1 Yes, I would ! The simple question is, not so much tho safety of the ,·esse! as our own. lie is a dangerous person. His presence here is d11ngerous to us. If he stays, unless our force is increased, in another mouth he will ha\'C the fvr t rcss in his hands; he will be master here. You htt\'C no power even now to prevent him. You knvw not whom to trust. The \'Cry parties that you arm and sent.! out for prO\'i:.ions, JUight, if they pleasec.l, turn upon and reud us. If l1t were not the most suspicious person in tho world-doubtful of the very men that S::lrvo him-he would soon bring the nfftLir to an i:lSUC. Fortuuntcly, ho doubts rather more than we con lido. lie knows not his own strength, and your seeming composure leads him to overrate ours. But he is getting wiser. Tlw conspiracy grows C\"Cry day. I am clear tha~ you should l('t him go, tuko lJisvcs:>el, pick !Ji':l erew,nod disappear. l ie wilt not go to Frnnce, that I am certain. He will shape his course for tho West Indies as soon as ho is out of our sight, and boa f.unous picarooo before the year is OYer." |
