ttle of Cadet's view of the matter.
"What triple cord binds De Repentigny to us?"

"His love of wine, his love of gaming, and his love of women--or rather
his love of a woman, which is the strongest strand in the string for a
young fool like him who is always chasing virtue and hugging vice!"

"Oh! a woman has got him! eh, Cadet? Pray who is she? When once a woman
catches a fellow by the gills, he is a dead mackerel: his fate is fixed
for good or bad in this world. But who is she, Cadet?--she must be a
clever one," said Bigot, sententiously.

"So she is! and she is too clever for young De Repentigny: she has got
her pretty fingers in his gills, and can carry her fish to whatever
market she chooses!"

"Cadet! Cadet! out with it!" repeated a dozen voices. "Yes, out with
it!" repeated Bigot. "We are all companions under the rose, and there
are no secrets here about wine or women!"

"Well, I would not give a filbert for all the women born since mother
Eve!" said Cadet, flinging a nut-shell at the ceiling. "But this is a
rare one, I must confess. Now stop! Don't cry out again 'Cadet! out with
it!' and I will tell you! What think you of the fair, jolly Mademoiselle
des Meloises?"

"Angelique? Is De Repentigny in love with her?" Bigot looked quite
interested now.

"In love with her? He would go on all fours after her, if she wanted
him! He does almost, as it is."

Bigot placed a finger on his brow and pondered for a moment. "You say
well, Cadet; if De Repentigny has fallen in love with that girl, he
is ours forever! Angelique des Meloises never lets go her ox until she
offers him up as a burnt offering! The Honnetes Gens will lose one of
the best trout in their stream if Angelique has the tickling of him!"

Bigot did not seem to be quite pleased with Cadet's information. He
rose from his seat somewhat flushed and excited by this talk respecting
Angelique des Meloises. He walked up and down the room a few turns,
recovered his composure, and sat down again.

"Come, gentlemen," said he; "too much care will kill a cat! Let us
change our talk to a merrier tune; fill up, and we will drink to the
loves of De Repentigny and the fair Angelique! I am much mistaken if we
do not find in her the dea ex machina to help us out of our trouble with
the Honnetes Gens!"

The glasses were filled and emptied. Cards and dice were then called
for. The company drew their chairs into a closer circle round the
table; deep play, and deeper