Cadet, am I not right?"

Bigot looked for approval from Cadet, who saw that he was thinking of
the secret chamber at Beaumanoir.

"You are right, Bigot! He must be killed in open day and not in a
corner. But who have we among us capable of making sure work of the
Bourgeois?"

"Leave it to me," replied De Pean. "I know one partner of the Company
who, if I can get him in harness, will run our chariot wheels in triumph
over the Golden Dog."

"And who is that?" asked Bigot eagerly.

"Le Gardeur de Repentigny!" exclaimed De Pean, with a look of
exultation.

"Pshaw! he would draw upon us more readily! Why, he is bewitched with
the Philiberts!" replied Bigot.

"I shall find means to break the spell long enough to answer our
purpose, your Excellency!" replied De Pean. "Permit me only to take my
own way with him."

"Assuredly, take your own way, De Pean! A bloody scuffle between
De Repentigny and the Bourgeois would not only be a victory for the
Company, but would breakup the whole party of the Honnetes Gens!"

The Intendant slapped De Pean on the shoulder and shook him by the hand.
"You are more clever than I believed you to be, De Pean. You have hit
on a mode of riddance which will entitle you to the best reward in the
power of the Company to bestow."

"My best reward will be the fulfilment of your promise, your
Excellency," answered De Pean.

"I will keep my word, De Pean. By God you shall have Angelique, with
such a dowry as the Company can alone give! Or, if you do not want the
girl, you shall have the dowry without the wife!"

"I shall claim both, your Excellency! But--"

"But what? Confess all your doubts, De Pean."

"Le Gardeur may claim her as his own reward!" De Pean guessed correctly
enough the true bent of Angelique's fancy.

"No fear! Le Gardeur de Repentigny, drunk or sober, is a gentleman. He
would reject the Princess d'Elide were she offered on such conditions
as you take her on. He is a romantic fool; he believes in woman's virtue
and all that stuff!"

"Besides, if he kill the Bourgeois, he will have to fight Pierre
Philibert before his sword is dry!" interjected Cadet. "I would not give
a Dutch stiver for Le Gardeur's bones five hours after he has pinked the
Bourgeois!"

An open duel in form was not to be thought of, because in that they
would have to fight the son and not the father, and the great object
would be frustrated. But the Bourgeois might be killed in a sudden fray,
when bloo