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 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?"