had his say, and flung himself heavily upon his
chair.

"The King's despatch demands respectful and loyal consideration,
remarked De Lery, a solid, grave officer of engineers, "and I doubt
not that upon a proper remonstrance from this council His Majesty will
graciously reconsider his order. The fall of Louisbourg is ominous of
the fall of Quebec. It is imperative to fortify the city in time to meet
the threatened invasion. The loss of Quebec would be the loss of the
Colony; and the loss of the Colony, the disgrace of France and the ruin
of our country."

"I cordially agree with the Chevalier de Lery," said La Corne St. Luc;
"he has spoken more sense than would be found in a shipload of such
despatches as that just read! Nay, your Excellency," continued the old
officer, smiling, "I shall not affront my sovereign by believing that
so ill-timed a missive came from him! Depend upon it, His Majesty has
neither seen nor sanctioned it. It is the work of the minister and his
mistresses, not the King's."

"La Corne! La Corne!" The Governor raised his finger with a warning
look. "We will not discuss the point further until we are favored
with the presence and opinion of the Intendant; he will surely be here
shortly!" At this moment a distant noise of shouting was heard in some
part of the city.

An officer of the day entered the hall in great haste, and whispered
something in the Governor's ear.

"A riot in the streets!" exclaimed the Governor. "The mob attacking the
Intendant! You do not say so! Captain Duval, turn out the whole guard
at once, and let Colonel St. Remy take the command and clear the way for
the Intendant, and also clear the streets of all disturbers."

A number of officers sprang to their feet. "Keep seated, gentlemen! We
must not break up the Council," said the Governor. "We are sure to
have the Intendant here in a few minutes and to learn the cause of this
uproar. It is some trifling affair of noisy habitans, I have no doubt."

Another loud shout, or rather yell, made itself distinctly heard in the
council-chamber. "It is the people cheering the Intendant on his way
through the city!" remarked La Corne St. Luc, ironically. "Zounds! what
a vacarme they make! See what it is to be popular with the citizens of
Quebec!"

There was a smile all round the table at La Corne's sarcasm. It offended
a few friends of the Intendant, however.

"The Chevalier La Corne speaks boldly in the absence of the Intendant,