will
be the worst if you breath one word of it to Angelique des Meloises, or
to any other person living. I am not ready to lose my head yet, Bigot,
for the sake of any woman, or even for you!"

The Intendant was staggered by the vehemence of Cadet, and impressed by
the force of his remarks. It was hard to sit down quietly and condone
such a crime, but he saw clearly the danger of pushing inquiry in
any direction without turning suspicion upon himself. He boiled with
indignation. He fumed and swore worse than his wont when angry, but
Cadet looked on quietly, smoking his pipe, waiting for the storm to calm
down.

"You were never in a woman's clutches so tight before, Bigot," continued
Cadet. "If you let La Pompadour suspect one hair of your head in this
matter, she will spin a cart-rope out of it that will drag you to the
Place de Greve."

"Reason tells me that what you say is true, Cadet," replied Bigot,
gloomily.

"To be sure; but is not Angelique a clever witch to bind Francois Bigot
neck and heels in that way, after fairly outwitting and running him
down?"

Cadet's cool comments drove Bigot beside himself. "I will not stand it;
by St. Maur! she shall pay for all this! I, who have caught women all my
life, to be caught by one thus! she shall pay for it!"

"Well, make her pay for it by marrying her!" replied Cadet. "Par Dieu!
I am mistaken if you have not got to marry her in the end! I would marry
her myself, if you do not, only I should be afraid to sleep nights! I
might be put under the floor before morning if she liked another man
better!"

Cadet gave way to a feeling of hilarity at this idea, shaking his sides
so long and heartily that Bigot caught the infection, and joined in with
a burst of sardonic laughter.

Bigot's laughter was soon over. He sat down at the table again, and,
being now calm, considered the whole matter over, point by point, with
Cadet, who, though coarse and unprincipled, was a shrewd counsellor in
difficulties.

It was determined between the two men that nothing whatever should be
said of the assassination. Bigot should continue his gallantries to
Angelique, and avoid all show of suspicion in that quarter. He
should tell her of the disappearance of Caroline, who had gone away
mysteriously as she came, but profess absolute ignorance as to her fate.

Angelique would be equally cautious in alluding to the murder; she would
pretend to accept all his statements as absolute fact. Her to