at stake. If I could but carry it
off, I should have sufficient compensation for all my miseries, in spite
of their twenty thousand livres and Holy Church.

In a few minutes we came to the convent, and halted outside, waiting for
Doltaire. Presently he came, and, looking sharply at us all, he ordered
two to wait outside, and Gabord and myself to come with him. Then he
stood looking at the building curiously for a moment. A shell had broken
one wing of it, and this portion had been abandoned; but the faithful
Sisters clung still to their home, though urged constantly by the
Governor to retire to the Hotel Dieu, which was outside the reach of
shot and shell. This it was their intention soon to do, for within the
past day or so our batteries had not sought to spare the convent. As
Doltaire looked he laughed to himself, and then said, "Too quiet for gay
spirits, this hearse. Come, Gabord, and fetch this slouching fellow,"
nodding towards me.

Then he knocked loudly. No one came, and he knocked again and again. At
last the door was opened by the Mother Superior, who was attended by two
others. She started at seeing Doltaire.

"What do you wish, monsieur?" she asked.

"I come on business of the King, good Mother," he replied seriously, and
stepped inside.

"It is a strange hour for business," she said severely.

"The King may come at all hours," he answered soothingly: "is it not so?
By the law he may enter when he wills."

"You are not the King, monsieur," she objected, with her head held up
sedately.

"Or the Governor may come, good Mother?"

"You are not the Governor, Monsieur Doltaire," she said, more sharply
still.

"But a Governor may demand admittance to this convent, and by the order
of his Most Christian Majesty he may not be refused: is it not so?"

"Must I answer the catechism of Monsieur Doltaire?"

"But is it not so?" he asked again urbanely.

"It is so, yet how does that concern you, monsieur?"

"In every way," and he smiled.

"This is unseemly, monsieur. What is your business?"

"The Governor's business, good Mother."

"Then let the Governor's messenger give his message and depart in
peace," she answered, her hand upon the door.

"Not the Governor's messenger, but the Governor himself," he rejoined
gravely.

He turned and was about to shut the door, but she stopped him. "This is
no house for jesting, monsieur," she said. "I will arouse the town if
you persist.--Sister," she added to one