"Darling!" said he, "lie down now, and compose yourself. Francois Bigot
is not unmindful of your sacrifices for his sake. I must return to my
guests, who are clamoring for me, or rather for you, Caroline!"

He kissed her cheek and turned to leave her, but she clung to his hand
as if wanting to say something more ere he went. She trembled visibly as
her low plaintive tones struck his ear.

"Francois! if you would forsake the companionship of those men and
purify your table of such excess, God's blessing would yet descend upon
you, and the people's love follow you! It is in your power to be as good
as you are great! I have many days wished to say this to you, but alas,
I feared you too much. I do not fear you to-day, Francois, after your
kind words to me."

Bigot was not impenetrable to that low voice so full of pathos and love.
But he was at a loss what to reply: strange influences were flowing
round him, carrying him out of himself. He kissed the gentle head that
reclined on his bosom. "Caroline," said he, "your advice is wise and
good as yourself. I will think of it for your sake, if not for my own.
Adieu, darling! Go, and take rest: these cruel vigils are killing you,
and I want you to live in hope of brighter days."

"I will," replied she, looking up with ineffable tenderness. "I am sure
I shall rest after your kind words, Francois. No dew of Heaven was ever
more refreshing than the balm they bring to my weary soul. Thanks, O
my Francois, for them!" She kissed his lips, and Bigot left the secret
chamber a sadder and for the moment a better man than he had ever been
before.

Caroline, overcome by her emotions, threw herself on a couch, invoking
blessings upon the head of the man by whom she had been so cruelly
betrayed. But such is woman's heart--full of mercy, compassion, and
pardon for every wrong, when love pleads for forgiveness.

"Ha! ha!" said Cadet, as the Intendant re-entered the great hall,
which was filled with bacchanalian frenzy. "Ha! ha! His Excellency has
proposed and been rejected! The fair lady has a will of her own and
won't obey! Why, the Intendant looks as if he had come from Quintin
Corentin, where nobody gets anything he wants!"

"Silence, Cadet! don't be a fool!" replied Bigot, impatiently, although
in the Intendant's usual mood nothing too gross or too bad could be said
in his presence but he could cap it with something worse.

"Fool, Bigot! It is you who have been the fool of a woman!"