The breaking up of the Council was deferred by the Secretary opening
a package sealed with the royal seal, and which contained other
sealed papers marked SPECIAL for His Excellency the Governor. The
Secretary handed them to the Count, who read over the contents with
deep interest and a changing countenance. He laid them down and
took them up again, perused them a second time, and passed them over
to the Intendant, who read them with a start of surprise and a
sudden frown on his dark eyebrows. But he instantly suppressed it,
biting his nether lip, however, with anger which he could not wholly
conceal.
He pushed the papers back to the Count with a nonchalant air, as of
a man who had quite made up his mind about them, saying in a
careless manner,--
"The commands of Madame la Marquise de Pompadour shall be complied
with," said he. "I will order strict search to be made for the
missing demoiselle, who, I suspect, will be found in some camp or
fort, sharing the couch of some lively fellow who has won favor in
her bright eyes.
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