do it, Bigot. Zounds! I
learned to dig and delve when I was a stripling at Charlebourg, and in
the trenches at Louisbourg, and I have not yet forgotten the knack of
it! But where to get spades, Bigot; you are master here and ought to
know."

"I, how should I know? It is terrible, Cadet, to bury her as if we had
murdered her! Is there no other way?"

"None. We are in a cahot and must get our cariole out of it as best we
can! I see plainly we two shall be taxed with this murder, Bigot, if we
let it be discovered! Besides, utter ruin awaits you from La Pompadour
if she finds out you ever had this girl at Beaumanoir in keeping. Come!
time for parley is past; where shall we find spades? We must to work,
Bigot!"

A sudden thought lighted up the eyes of the Intendant, who saw the
force of Cadet's suggestion, strange and repulsive as it was. "I think I
know," said he; "the gardeners keep their tools in the old tower, and we
can get there by the secret passage and return."

"Bravo!" exclaimed Cadet, encouragingly, "come, show the way, and we
will get the tools in a trice! I always heard there was a private way
underground to the old tower. It never stood its master in better stead
than now; perhaps never worse if it has let in the murderer of this poor
girl of yours."

Bigot rose up, very faint and weak; Cadet took his arm to support him,
and bidding him be firm and not give way again at sight of her dead
body, led him back to the chamber of death. "Let us first look around
a moment," said he, "to find, if possible, some trace of the hellish
assassins."

The lamps burned brightly, shedding a glare of light over every object
in the secret chamber.

Cadet looked narrowly round, but found little trace of the murderers.
The drawers of the escritoire stood open, with their contents in great
disorder, a circumstance which at once suggested robbers. Cadet pointed
it out to Bigot with the question:

"Kept she much money, Bigot?"

"None that I know of. She asked for none, poor girl! I gave her none,
though I would have given her the King's treasury had she wished for
it."

"But she might have had money when she came, Bigot," continued Cadet,
not doubting but robbery had been the motive for the murder.

"It may be, I never questioned her," replied Bigot; "she never spoke of
money; alas! all the money in the world was as dross in her estimation.
Other things than money occupied her pure thoughts."

"Well, it looks like rob