one Captain Van Braam, became a hostage. Monsieur
Coulon Villiers, the French commander, gave his bond that we should be
delivered up when an officer and two cadets, who were prisoners with us,
should be sent on. It was a choice between Mr. Mackaye of the Regulars
and Mr. Washington, or Mr. Van Braam and myself. I thought of what would
be best for the country; and besides, Monsieur Coulon Villiers pitched
upon my name at once, and held to it. So I gave up my sword to Charles
Bedford, my lieutenant, with more regret than I can tell, for it was
sheathed in memories, charging him to keep it safe--that he would use it
worthily I knew. And so, sorrowfully bidding my friends good-by, away we
went upon the sorry trail of captivity, arriving in due time at Fort
Du Quesne, at the junction of the Ohio and the Monongahela, where I
was courteously treated. There I bettered my French and made the
acquaintance of some ladies from Quebec city, who took pains to help me
with their language.

"Now, there was one lady to whom I talked with some freedom of my early
life and of Sir John Godric. She was interested in all, but when I named
Sir John she became at once much impressed, and I told her of his
great attachment to Prince Charles. More than once she returned to the
subject, begging me to tell her more; and so I did, still, however,
saying nothing of certain papers Sir John had placed in my care. A few
weeks after the first occasion of my speaking, there was a new arrival
at the fort. It was--can you guess?--Monsieur Doltaire. The night after
he came he visited me in my quarters, and after courteous passages, of
which I need not speak, he suddenly said, 'You have the papers of Sir
John Godric--those bearing on Prince Charles's invasion of England?'

"I was stunned by the question, for I could not guess his drift or
purpose, though presently it dawned upon me.--Among the papers were many
letters from a great lady in France, a growing rival with La Pompadour
in the counsels and favour of the King. She it was who had a secret
passion for Prince Charles, and these letters to Sir John, who had been
with the Pretender at Versailles, must prove her ruin if produced. I had
promised Sir John most solemnly that no one should ever have them while
I lived, except the great lady herself, and that I would give them to
her some time, or destroy them. It was Doltaire's mission to get these
letters, and he had projected a visit to Williamsburg to see