it was with a mental reservation to deceive her, he promised to
banish Caroline from his chateau.

"It was always my good fortune to be conquered in every passage of arms
with your sex, Angelique," said he, at once radiant and submissive. "Sit
down by me in token of amity."

She complied without hesitation, and sat down by him, gave him her
hand again, and replied with an arch smile, while a thousand inimitable
coquetries played about her eyes and lips, "You speak now like an amant
magnifique, Chevalier!

"'Quelque fort qu'on s'en defende,
Il y faut venir un jour!'"

"It is a bargain henceforth and forever, Angelique!" said he; "but I am
a harder man than you imagine: I give nothing for nothing, and all for
everything. Will you consent to aid me and the Grand Company in a matter
of importance?"

"Will I not? What a question, Chevalier! Most willingly I will aid you
in anything proper for a lady to do!" added she, with a touch of irony.

"I wish you to do it, right or wrong, proper or improper, although
there is no impropriety in it. Improper becomes proper if you do it,
Mademoiselle!"

"Well, what is it, Chevalier,--this fearful test to prove my loyalty to
the Grand Company, and which makes you such a matchless flatterer?"

"Just this, Angelique!" replied he. "You have much influence with the
Seigneur de Repentigny?"

Angelique colored up to the eyes. "With Le Gardeur! What of him? I can
take no part against the Seigneur de Repentigny;" said she, hastily.

"Against him? For him! We fear much that he is about to fall into the
hands of the Honnetes Gens: you can prevent it if you will, Angelique?"

"I have an honest regard for the Seigneur de Repentigny!" said she, more
in answer to her own feelings than to the Intendant's remark--her cheek
flushed, her fingers twitched nervously at her fan, which she broke in
her agitation and threw the pieces vehemently upon the ground. "I have
done harm enough to Le Gardeur I fear," continued she. "I had better not
interfere with him any more! Who knows what might result?" She looked up
almost warningly at the Intendant.

"I am glad to find you so sincere a friend to Le Gardeur," remarked
Bigot, craftily. "You will be glad to learn that our intention is to
elevate him to a high and lucrative office in the administration of
the Company, unless the Honnetes Gens are before us in gaining full
possession of him."

"They shall not be before us if I can preve