silver,--a recent gift of some grateful merchant, standing between the
powerful black-robed priest and this gallant sailor-soldier, richly
dressed in fine skins and furs, with long waving hair, more like a Viking
than a man of fashion, and carrying a courtly and yet sportive look, as
though he could laugh at the miseries of the sinful world. Three strange
comrades were these, who knew each other so far as one man can know
another, yet each knowing from a different stand-point. Perrot knew
certain traits of Iberville of which De Casson was ignorant, and the abbe
knew many depths which Perrot never even vaguely plumbed. And yet all
could meet and be free in speech, as though each read the other
thoroughly.

"Let us begin," said Iberville. "I want news of New York."

"Let us eat as we talk," urged the abbe.

They all sat and were soon eating and drinking with great relish.

Presently the abbe began:

"Of my first journey you know by the letter I sent you: how I found that
Mademoiselle Leveret was gone to England with her father. That was a
year after you left, now about three years gone. Monsieur Gering entered
the navy of the English king, and went to England also."

Iberville nodded. "Yes, yes, in the English navy I know very well of
that."

The abbe looked up surprised. "From my letter?"