Now that the Rebellion was known, Nicolas intended to try and win his father and his father's money and horses over to the cause.
Because Ferrol was an Englishman he made no confidant of him, and because he was a dying man he saw in him no menace to the cause.
Besides, was not Ferrol practically dependent upon their hospitality?
If he had guessed that his friend knew accurately of his movements since the night he had seen Vanne Castine hand him his commission from Papineau, he would have felt less secure: for, after all, love--or prejudice--of country is a principle in the minds of most men deeper than any other.

When all other morals go, this latent tendency to stand by the blood of his clan is the last moral in man that bears the test without treason.

If he had known that Ferrol had written to the Commandant at Quebec, telling him of the imminence of the Rebellion, and the secret recruiting and drilling going on in the parishes, his popular comrade might have paid a high price for his disclosure.
That morning at sunrise, Christine, saying she was going upon a visit to the next parish, started away upon her mission to the English province.
Ferrol had urged her to let him go, but she had refused.

He had not yet fully recovered from his adventure with the bear, she said.

Then he said they might go together; but she insisted that she must make the way clear, and have everything ready.