This tale would never have been written had it not been for the kindness
of my distinguished friend Dr. John George Bourinot, C.M.G., of Ottawa,
whose studies in parliamentary procedure, the English and Canadian
Constitutions, and the history and development of Canada have been
of singular benefit to the Dominion and to the Empire. Through Dr.
Bourinot’s good offices I came to know Mr. James Lemoine, of Quebec, the
gifted antiquarian, and President of the Royal Society of Canada.
Mr. Lemoine placed in my hands certain historical facts suggestive
of romance. Subsequently, Mr. George M. Fairchild, Jr., of Cap Rouge,
Quebec, whose library contains a valuable collection of antique Canadian
books, maps, and prints, gave me generous assistance and counsel,
allowing me “the run” of all his charts, prints, histories, and memoirs.
Many of these prints, and a rare and authentic map of Wolfe’s operations
against Quebec are now reproduced in this novel, and may be considered
accurate illustrations of places, people, and events. By the insertion
of these faithful historical elements it is hoped to give more vividness
to the atmosphere of the time, and to strengthen the verisimilitude of a
piece of fiction which is not, I believe, out of harmony with fact.