The sour-faced man silently holds out the smaller sealed envelope.<br/><br/>"I know not what matter he desires you to resolve, for he has given strict instructions that you alone should read this.  Future instructions shall be provided in much the same manner, that I and the staff may honestly answer any inquiries with ignorance.  I caution you to speak of the contents only with great discretion."<br/><br/>The smaller envelope, once taken, bears the Royal Seal rather than the Ducal one.  The message within is written in a delicate hand, neat and tidy, with a minimum of flourishes:<br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: georgia;"><em>Lady Beatrix delAmante, the self-styled Countess d'Azif, has in her custody a young gentleman of singular qualification.  We desire his discrete liberation with utmost haste, for reasons that shall become clear.  His given name is Armand.  -V-</em></span><br/><br/>"I am instructed," M. Valliant muses, "to provide you with fresh horses come morning, and a hundred pistoles for your expenses.  For now, I shall leave the two of you some privacy to discuss the matter.  When you desire my presence again, simply give the bell-pull by the door two smart tugs."<br/><br/>He withdraws, looking even less happy than he did when you arrived.