geous of fool's paradises, when a bird brought to my ear the
astounding news that a woman, beautiful as Diana, had been found in the
forest of Beaumanoir by some Hurons of Lorette, who were out hunting
with the Intendant. She was accompanied by a few Indians of a strange
tribe, the Abenaquais of Acadia. The woman was utterly exhausted by
fatigue, and lay asleep on a couch of dry leaves under a tree, when the
astonished Hurons led the Intendant to the spot where she lay.

"Don't interrupt me, Amelie; I see you are amazed, but let me go on!"
She held the hands of her companion firmly in her lap as she proceeded:

"The Intendant was startled out of all composure at the apparition
of the sleeping lady. He spoke eagerly to the Abenaquais in their own
tongue, which was unintelligible to the Hurons. When he had listened
to a few words of their explanation, he ran hastily to the lady,
kissed her, called her by name, 'Caroline!' She woke up suddenly, and
recognizing the Intendant, embraced him, crying 'Francois! 'Francois!'
and fainted in his arms.

"The Chevalier was profoundly agitated, blessing and banning, in the
same breath, the fortune that had led her to him. He gave her wine,
restored her to consciousness, talked with her long, and sometimes
angrily; but to no avail, for the woman, in accents of despair,
exclaimed in French, which the Hurons understood, that the Intendant
might kill and bury her there, but she would never, never return home
any more."

Angelique scarcely took breath as she continued her eager recital.

"The Intendant, overpowered either by love of her or fear of her, ceased
his remonstrances. He gave some pieces of gold to the Abenaquais, and
dismissed them. The strange Indians kissed her on both hands as they
would a queen, and with many adieus vanished into the forest. The lady,
attended by Bigot, remained seated under the tree till nightfall, when
he conducted her secretly to the Chateau, where she still remains in
perfect seclusion in a secret chamber, they say, and has been seen by
none save one or two of the Intendant's most intimate companions."

"Heavens! what a tale of romance! How learned you all this, Angelique?"
exclaimed Amelie, who had listened with breathless attention to the
narrative.

"Oh, partly from a hint from a Huron girl, and the rest from the
Intendant's Secretary. Men cannot keep secrets that women are interested
in knowing! I could make De Pean talk the Intendant's head o