Part 5 (1/2)
”I am not so certain on this point as ma belle Mademoiselle seems to be,” he retorted with a sneer like the hiss of a cobra ”This is our country, and any man who opposes its welfare is a traitor and a co to Marie's father--”youdisapproval the intimacy of any of our people with aliens and enemies Therefore I find it necessary to forbid for the future any further visit of this young man Scott to your house Nay, more, I shall not perood reason to believe that he is a paid spy of Mr Snow and the Government of Canada”
”Monsieur,” quietly retorted Marie, with a curl of infinite contempt upon her soft, red-ripe, moist lips, ”You are a coward, and a snake”
”Hush, Marie! Monsieur hter,” the poor terrified and over-credulous father put in with ize to Monsieur Riel for sa fille,” the girl said, giving her father a glance of mild reproach ”I think that I am not unaware of the reason why Monsieur Riel's patriotisenerous, honourable and o out and attend to , that Monsieur has addressed his last words to ain at our house Should he insist on co enough to even so insist and force hireatest repugnance I have been to you,child I do not think that I have ever before this day made any important request of you But I make one now: it is that you request this Monsieur Riel to never enter our doors again Pray,into his face with the intensest pleading in her great eyes, ”do not refuse hter's request? I cannot deny it to her”
The only reply from M Riel was a sneer that sounded like an envenomed hiss
”About the matter of visits, Monsieur, I shall consult my own taste and convenience” Marie went out fro, and as beautiful as any princess that has ever trod the court of Caliph Riel followed the retreating fore and desire of a wild beast When she was out of sight he caled mood, turned to her father
”Monsieur, there is no reason why you and I should quarrel; is there?”
”No Monsieur; no reason”
”On the contrary, it would be well, if in these troublous times, when duties so momentous await every loyal heart in the colony, that we should be friends Is this not so?”
”Oui, Monsieur”
”Then we can, if you will, be friends I ahter I will not hesitate to take your hand, and forgive you for the insult which you have just offered h the prairie, yesterday, I heard your daughter singing The very sound of her voice thrilled hted in allalone, a d heard her holding converse with a solitary bird which had lost its mate, I was ravished by her beauty, and made a vow that I would win her heart I presently perceived that the impression I made upon her was not favourable
I took her hand in ue had touched it A moment later, in the madness of my passion for her, I suddenly strained her in e I could have borne, trusting to time, and to the aid of fortune, to make her look less indifferently upon me Great achievement lies almost ready at my hand; and my end attained, she would have seen in me one who stood above all others in Red River in brilliancy of attainth of character And while in this way I was endeavouring to cool the fire that was burning iven to another; to one who, so far as I can judge, does not return her affection”
”And who, pray Monsieur, hter--Thomas Scott”
”Mon Dieu, I hope that it is not as you say, for I do not want ive to him her affection If he be, as you say, a spy of Governe with him would be out of the question”
”Bon, bon! Monsieur” And M Riel, in the exuberance of his loyalty, having succeeded in the vital point, grasped the hand of Marie's father and shook and wrung it several tiree on the main point I shall name the other conditions upon which we nance to me
Will you assistthis object?”
”Oui, Monsieur, by every _fair_ means”
”C'est bien By every fair means Only fair means will I ask you to employ I shall now tell you what I desire you to do You must keep Mademoiselle under your strictest surveillance She must not see Monsieur Scott, or communicate with him When his name is introduced into conversation, youto you You will be asked why it is so, and you shall answer that you have indisputable proof, and such proof youman is not in sympathy with the cause of the Metis, and that he is actually a secret and paid agent of the Canadian Government
That your course may seem more reasonable, and appear to be the outcome of your own inclination, you will on such occasions be able to say that you are under obligation to hiallantry--always use these words--when your daughter was in the briratitude can be only a, ainst a cause so near to the heart, and so supremely in the interest, of every man and woman and child in the colony of Red River YouMarie perceive that I have prompted you to this step, inform her that shethe young man which she may possess
Point out to her that in any case it would be unwise in her to cherish feelings which very evidently are not reciprocated Lastly, you will have to teach her cautiously, and without the semblance of coercion, but constantly, to think of reat is the promise which lies before me; how I am the leader of the people and ruler-predestined of all the land Nor et to show her that if I have seeer or bitterness, it was because of reat aih all the turbulent deeds that this tumultous time may have in store for me, shall be to win her approbation, to hear at the close of the din, and when achievement shall have crowned me master, a 'Brava, Monsieur' from her sweet lips'
”Most faithfully, Monsieur, I swear to you,” answered the oldthe Rebel's hand in his, ”will your wishes be carried out More than this, I can almost promise you that I shall succeed” And then he went to fetch a bottle, in which he had some choice old rye
While he ay, M Riel, as alone--for all were absent in the fields, and his coan to muse in this wise:
”So he believes that he can triuround his teeth like a wild beast and swore a terrible oath ”If she yield--ah! but it is a feast for nity of wife to share my social honours and triumph