248 MASSACHUSETTS ATTACKS QUEBEC. [1690. 



seen with troubled minds the return of King Stork 

 in the person of the haughty and irascible count. 

 He on his part felt his power. The country was 

 in deadly need of him, and looked to him for salva- 

 tion ; while the king had shown him such marks of 

 favor, that, for the moment at least, his enemies 

 must hold their peace. Now, therefore, was the 

 time to teach them that he was their master. 

 "Whether trivial or important the occasion mattered 

 little. What he wanted was a conflict and a victory, 

 or submission without a conflict. 



The supreme council had held its usual weekly 

 meetings since Frontenac's arrival ; but as yet he 

 had not taken his place at the board, though his 

 presence was needed. Auteuil, the attorney-gen- 

 eral, was thereupon deputed to invite him. He 

 visited the count at his apartment in the chateau, 

 but could get from him no answer, except that the 

 council was able to manage its own business, and 

 that he would come when the king's service should 

 require it. The councillors divined that he was 

 waiting for some assurance that they would receive 

 him with befitting ceremony ; and, after debating the 

 question, they voted to send four of their number 

 to repeat the invitation, and beg the governor to say 

 what form of reception would be agreeable to him. 

 Frontenac answered that it was for them to pro- 

 pose the form, and that, when they did so, he 

 would take the subject into consideration. The 

 deputies returned, and there was another debate. 

 A ceremony was devised, which it was thought 

 must needs be acceptable to the count ; and the 



