standing near, "the bell!"

"You fill your office with great dignity and merit, Mere St. George," he
said, as he put out his hand and stayed the Sister. "I commend you for
your discretion. Read this," he continued, handing her a paper.

A Sister held a light, and the Mother read it. As she did so Doltaire
made a motion to Gabord, and he shut the door quickly on us. Mere St.
George looked up from the paper, startled and frightened too.

"Your Excellency!" she exclaimed.

"You are the first to call me so," he replied. "I thought to leave
untouched this good gift of the King, and to let the Marquis de
Vaudreuil and the admirable Bigot untwist the coil they have made. But
no. After some too generous misgivings, I now claim my own. I could not
enter here, to speak with a certain lady, save as the Governor, but
as the Governor I now ask speech with Mademoiselle Duvarney. Do you
hesitate?" he added. "Do you doubt that signature of his Majesty?
Then see this. Here is a line from the Marquis de Vaudreuil, the late
Governor. It is not dignified, one might say it is craven, but it is
genuine."

Again the distressed lady read, and again she said, "Your Excellency!"
Then, "You wish to see her in my presence, your Excellency?"

"Alone, good Mother," he softly answered.

"Your Excellency, will you, the first officer in the land, defy our holy
rules, and rob us of our privilege to protect and comfort and save?"

"I defy nothing," he replied. "The lady is here against her will, a
prisoner. She desires not your governance and care. In any case, I
must speak with her; and be assured, I honour you the more for your
solicitude, and will ask your counsel when I have finished talk with
her."

Was ever man so crafty? After a moment's thought she turned, dismissed
the others, and led the way, and Gabord and I followed. We were bidden
to wait outside a room, well lighted but bare, as I could see through
the open door. Doltaire entered, smiling, and then bowed the nun on her
way to summon Alixe. Gabord and I stood there, not speaking, for both
were thinking of the dangerous game now playing. In a few minutes the
Mother returned, bringing Alixe. The light from the open door shone upon
her face. My heart leaped, for there was in her look such a deep sorrow.
She was calm, save for those shining yet steady eyes; they were like
furnaces, burning up the colour of her cheeks. She wore a soft black
gown, with no sign of ornament, and her gold-