lady, and will talk to you like a queen. But she will give
you a polite reply to your proposal that will improve your opinions of
our sex."

"You are mocking me, Angelique, as you always do! One never knows when
you are in jest or when in earnest. Even when you get angry, it is often
unreal and for a purpose! I want you to be serious for once. The fortune
of the Tillys and De Repentignys is the best in New France, and we can
make it ours if you will help me."

"I am serious enough in wishing you those chests full of gold, and those
broad lands that a crow cannot fly over in a day; but I must forego my
share of them, and so must you yours, brother!" Angelique leaned back
in her chair, desiring to stop further discussion of a topic she did not
like to hear.

"Why must you forego your share of the De Repentigny fortune, Angelique?
You could call it your own any day you chose by giving your little
finger to Le Gardeur! you do really puzzle me."

The Chevalier did look perplexed at his inscrutable sister, who only
smiled over the table at him, as she nonchalantly cracked nuts and
sipped her wine by drops.

"Of course I puzzle you, Renaud!" said she at last. "I am a puzzle to
myself sometimes. But you see there are so many men in the world,--poor
ones are so plenty, rich ones so scarce, and sensible ones hardly to be
found at all,--that a woman may be excused for selling herself to the
highest bidder. Love is a commodity only spoken of in romances or in the
patois of milkmaids now-a-days!"

"Zounds, Angelique! you would try the patience of all the saints in
the calendar! I shall pity the fellow you take in! Here is the
fairest fortune in the Colony about to fall into the hands of Pierre
Philibert--whom Satan confound for his assurance! A fortune which I
always regarded as my own!"

"It shows the folly and vanity of your sex! You never spoke a word to
Amelie de Repentigny in the way of wooing in your life! Girls like her
don't drop into men's arms just for the asking."

"Pshaw! as if she would refuse me if you only acted a sister's part! But
you are impenetrable as a rock, and the whole of your fickle sex could
not match your vanity and caprice, Angelique."

She rose quickly with a provoked air.

"You are getting so complimentary to my poor sex, Renaud," said she,
"that I must really leave you to yourself, and I could scarcely leave
you in worse company."

"You are so bitter and sarcastic upon one!" replied he, t