THE CONSPIRACY OF BARKER A. 91 



better, and after dinner would come and see M. Riu ; but as his answer gave no 

 assurance of his intention as to departure, the commandant directed the sergeant 

 to repeat the message. Presently the sergeant returned, evidently under the in 

 fluence of drink, with word from the storekeeper that he felt much better, but 

 had given himself over to the devil in hell; and the Sergeant having objected to 

 carry such a message to his superior officer, Barrera had replied: " Tell him just 

 what I said." 



M. Riu reprimanded the Sergeant for not having come to him for the orders 

 of the day, and for leaving for St. Genevieve without passport or instructions. 

 The sergeant asked pardon for these irregularities and was forgiven. He then 

 went on to say that yesterday he had issued orders to the troop to hold themselves 

 in readiness for the morrow ; but they declared they would not leave in the 

 morning, and that he might obey M. Riu, but they would not; furthermore, that 

 while at St. Genevieve, Gomez and Gousman, two of the soldiers, had refused to 

 assist in loading or to work. Mr. Riu replied that he should put his statement in 

 writing; which he did on the spot. 



M. Riu then directed him to go once more to the storekeeper and ascertain 

 whether it was his intention to embark, and to report in writing. Thereupon 

 the sergeant answered, excitedly, that he would not, as his word was sufficient, 

 adding that M. Riu was a false man, a two-faced man; that he demanded to 

 know every thing, and, notwithstanding he had been fully informed, he required 

 things to be put into writing that he might entrap and ruin him. M. Riu asked 

 why he used such language, told him to contain himself and not to speak so excit- 

 edly and so loud; but he all the more spoke out, saying, he wished every one to 

 hear his words, that what he had said was said, and M. Riu could make of it 

 what he liked. As notwithstanding the Spanish commandant's patient forbear- 

 ance, and efforts to persuade him to calm himself the sergeant only persisted in 

 his unseemly language and conduct, he bade him go and take the orders of the 

 storekeeper, since he disregarded those of his superior officer. At this Gaillard 

 left, declaring he would compel by force the storekeeper to go on board. 



M. Riu went immediately to the government chamber to communicate what 

 had occurred, and consult St. Ange as to what was best to be done. The French 

 official's quarters were in the central hall of the Maxent, Laclede & Co. factory, 

 which seems to have been built specially with a view to accommodate the district 

 government when it should be transferred to St. Louis from Fort Chartres, sit- 

 uated on the west side of Main Street, between Market and Walnut Streets, from 

 which there was a full view of the river; and his soldiers' barracks were in the 

 basement. They agreed to send for Barrera, which was done. One and the 

 other pointed out to him his duty, and urged him to an effort to allay the excite- 

 ment of the detachment, for both perceived that affairs were taking a serious 

 turn; and, finally, M. Riu commanded him, in the name of the King, to take 

 his departure for Fort St. Charles. To all of which the storekeeper only made 

 answer that he was sick, and the king did not require that a sick person should 

 set out on a journey; but if he must go, it would be only on a written order in 



