spect was of itself
sufficient to deter him from the attempt to escape. But there was
also another reason. He could not bear the thought of leaving Mimi
forever, and never seeing her again. If he should succeed in escaping
to Annapolis Royal, it would be an eternal separation between her and
himself. Grand Pre seemed pleasant to him since she was here; and he
thought it better to be a prisoner here than a free man elsewhere.
He, therefore, deliberately preferred to run any risk that might be
before him, with the faint hope of seeing Mimi again, rather than to
attempt flight.

What had happened since he had come here he did not know very
clearly. From conversation which he had overheard he had gathered
that Labordo was dead; but, when he asked any of them about it, they
refused to tell him anything at all. Claude was, therefore, left to
make the most that he could out of this vague information. But the
intelligence caused him to feel much anxiety about Mimi. He
remembered well all that she had ever told him, and could not help
wondering what she would do under present circumstances. Would she be
willing to remain in the neighborhood of Cazeneau? But how could she
help it? Would not Cazeneau take advantage of her present loneliness
to urge forward any plans that he might have about her?

Already the suspicion had come to Claude that Cazeneau had certain
plans about Mimi. What he thought was this: that Laborde was rich,
that Mimi was his heiress, and that Cazeneau was a man of profligate
life and ruined fortunes, who was anxious to repair his fortunes by
marrying this heiress. To such a man the disparity in their years
would make no difference, nor would he particularly care whether Mimi
loved him or not, so long as he could make her his wife, and gain
control over her property. What had given him this idea about
Cazeneau's position and plans it is difficult to say; but it was
probably his own jealous fears about Mimi, and his deep detestation
of his enemy.

And now he began to chafe against the narrow confines of his chamber
with greater impatience. He longed to have some one with whom he
could talk. He wondered whether Cazeneau would remain here much
longer, and, if he went away, whether he would take Mimi or leave
her. He wondered, also, whether he would be taken to Louisbourg. He
felt as if he would rather go there, if Mimi was to go, even at the
risk of his life, than remain behind after she had left. But all his