lady to her trouble
and the Church's care?"

"If the Seigneur is hurt, I will take mademoiselle to him," was his
instant reply.

"It may not be, your Excellency," she said. "I will furnish her with
other escort."

"And I, as Governor of this province, as commander-in-chief of the army,
say that only with my escort shall the lady reach her father."

At this Alixe spoke: "Dear Mere St. George, do not fear for me; God will
protect me--"

"And I also, mademoiselle, with my life," interposed Doltaire.

"God will protect me," Alixe repeated; "I have no fear."

"I will send two of our Sisters with mademoiselle to nurse the poor
Seigneur," said Mere St. George.

I am sure Doltaire saw the move. "A great kindness, holy Mother," he
said politely, "and I will see they are well cared for. We will set
forth at once. The Seigneur shall be brought to the Intendance, and he
and his daughter shall have quarters there."

He stepped towards the door where we were. I fell back into position
as he came. "Gabord," said he, "send your trusted fellow here to the
General's camp, and have him fetch to the Intendance the Seigneur
Duvarney, who has been wounded. Alive or dead, he must be brought," he
added in a lower voice.

Then he turned back into the room. As he did so, Gabord looked at me
inquiringly.

"If you go, you put your neck into the gin," said he; "some one in camp
will know you."

"I will not leave my wife," I answered in a whisper. Thus were all plans
altered on the instant. Gabord went to the outer door and called another
soldier, to whom he gave this commission.

A few moments afterwards, Alixe, Doltaire, and the Sisters of Mercy
were at the door ready to start. Doltaire turned and bowed with a
well-assumed reverence to the Mother Superior. "To-night's affairs here
are sacred to ourselves, Mere St. George," he said.

She bowed, but made no reply. Alixe turned and kissed her hand. But as
we stepped forth, the Mother said suddenly, pointing to me, "Let the
soldier come back in an hour, and mademoiselle's luggage shall go to
her, your Excellency."

Doltaire nodded, glancing at me. "Surely he shall attend you, Mere St.
George," he said, and then stepped on with Alixe, Gabord and the other
soldier ahead, the two Sisters behind, and myself beside these. Going
quietly through the disordered Upper Town, we came down Palace Street to
the Intendance. Here Doltaire had kept his quarters despite his growing
quarrel with B