e last attainable
atom of information. Not that she had sounded the depths of Bigot's
soul--there were regions of darkness in his character which no eye but
God's ever penetrated. Angelique felt that with all her acuteness she
did not comprehend the Intendant.

"You ask what I think of the Intendant?" asked he, surprised somewhat at
the question.

"Yes--an odd question, is it not, Le Gardeur?" and she smiled away any
surprise he experienced.

"Truly, I think him the most jovial gentleman that ever was in New
France," was the reply; "frank and open-handed to his friends, laughing
and dangerous to his foes. His wit is like his wine, Angelique: one
never tires of either, and no lavishness exhausts it. In a word, I, like
the Intendant, I like his wit, his wine, his friends,--some of them, that
is!--but above all, I like you, Angelique, and will be more his friend
than ever for your sake, since I have learned his generosity towards the
Chevalier des Meloises."

The Intendant had recently bestowed a number of valuable shares in the
Grand Company upon the brother of Angelique, making the fortune of that
extravagant young nobleman.

"I am glad you will be his friend, if only for my sake," added she,
coquettishly. "But some great friends of yours like him not. Your sweet
sister Amelie shrank like a sensitive plant at the mention of his name,
and the Lady de Tilly put on her gravest look to-day when I spoke of the
Chevalier Bigot."

Le Gardeur gave Angelique an equivocal look at mention of his sister.
"My sister Amelie is an angel in the flesh," said he. "A man need be
little less than divine to meet her full approval; and my good aunt has
heard something of the genial life of the Intendant. One may excuse a
reproving shake of her noble head."

"Colonel Philibert too! he shares in the sentiments of your aunt and
sister, to say nothing of the standing hostility of his father, the
Bourgeois," continued Angelique, provoked at Le Gardeur's want of
adhesion.

"Pierre Philibert! He may not like the Intendant: he has reason for not
doing so; but I stake my life upon his honor--he will never be unjust
towards the Intendant or any man." Le Gardeur could not be drawn into a
censure of his friend.

Angelique shielded adroitly the stiletto of innuendo she had drawn. "You
say right," said she, craftily; "Pierre Philibert is a gentleman worthy
of your regard. I confess I have seen no handsomer man in New France.
I have been dreami