La Salle and the discovery of the great West - North Central ...

1678.] PLOTS AGAINST LA SALLE. 113men in the place, was extremely urgent in his proffersof hospitality, and at length, though he knew LaSalle but slightly, persuaded him to lodge in hishouse. He had been here but a few days when hishost's wife began to enact the part of the wife ofPotiphar, and this with so much vivacity that on oneoccasion La Salle was forced to take an abrupt leave,in order to avoid an infringement of the laws of hospitality.As he opened the door, he found the husbandon the watch, and saw that it was a plot toentrap him. 1Another attack, of a different character, thoughin the same direction, was soon after made. Theremittances which La Salle received from the variousmembers and connections of his family were sentthrough the hands of his brother, Abbe* Cavelier,from whom his enemies were, therefore, very eagerto alienate him. To this end, a report was made toreach the priest's ears that La Salle had seduced ayoung woman, with whom he was living in an openand scandalous manner at Fort Frontenac. Theeffect of this device exceeded the wishes of its contrivers; for the priest, aghast at what he had heard,set out for the fort, to administer his fraternal rebuke,but on arriving, in place of the expected abomination,found his brother, assisted by two Rdcollet friars,ruling with edifying propriety over a most exemplaryhousehold.1This story is told at considerable length, and the advance* ofthe lady particularly described.8