Chapter 18

HE THOUGHT OF HIS WIFE AND FAMILY, AND HE RETURNED TO SHERBROOKE.

"Good morning, Mr. A----."

"Good morning, Mr. L----. A lovely morning."

"Yes, indeed."

"Are you going far?"

"I am going to Marsden. By the way, have you seen Donald Morrison lately?"

"I saw him yesterday. Why do you ask?"

"Well, I may tell you that I have a warrant to arrest him on a charge of arson."

Mr. L---- looked very thoughtful. "Do you know the kind of man you have to deal with?"

"I have heard a good deal about him, especially since he returned from the West. But why do you ask?"

"I don't know," said Mr. L----, "whether Donald set fire to the Duquette's place or not, but I know that his real or fancied wrongs have made him morose and irritable--aye, I will add, dangerous. You are a married man, Mr. A----?"

"Yes."

"You have a family?"

"Yes."

"Take my advice," said Mr. L---- impressively. "Don't try to execute this warrant. Go straight back to Sherbrooke."

"But my duty," said Mr. A---- irresolutely.

"Where could you find Morrison, anyway? And if you did find him, and attempted to execute the warrant, I tell you," said Mr. L--------, with great earnestness, "there would be bloodshed."

Mr. A--------- thought a moment, held out his hand to Mr. L---------, and turned his face towards Sherbrooke.