under your roof? She is still
there, Chevalier, in spite of your promise!"

Bigot was on the point of denying the fact, but there was sharpness
in Angelique's tone, and clearness of all doubt in her eyes. He saw he
would gain nothing by denial.

"She knows the whole secret, I do believe!" muttered he. "Argus with his
hundred eyes was a blind man compared to a woman's two eyes sharpened by
jealousy."

"The lady of Beaumanoir accuses me of no sin that I repent of!" replied
he. "True! I promised to send her away, and so I will; but she is a
woman, a lady, who has claims upon me for gentle usage. If it were your
case, Angelique--"

Angelique quitted his arm and stood confronting him, flaming with
indignation. She did not let him finish his sentence: "If it were my
case, Bigot! as if that could ever be my case, and you alive to speak of
it!"

Bigot stepped backwards. He was not sure but a poniard glittered in the
clenched hand of Angelique. It was but the flash of her diamond rings as
she lifted it suddenly. She almost struck him.

"Do not blame me for infidelities committed before I knew you,
Angelique!" said he, seizing her hand, which he held forcibly in his, in
spite of her efforts to wrench it away.

"It is my nature to worship beauty at every shrine. I have ever done
so until I found the concentration of all my divinities in you. I could
not, if I would, be unfaithful to you, Angelique des Meloises!" Bigot
was a firm believer in the classical faith that Jove laughs at lovers'
perjuries.

"You mock me, Bigot!" replied she. "You are the only man who has ever
dared to do so twice."

"When did I mock you twice, Angelique?" asked he, with an air of injured
innocence.

"Now! and when you pledged yourself to remove the lady of Beaumanoir
from your house! I admire your courage, Bigot, in playing false with me
and still hoping to win! But never speak to me more of love while that
pale spectre haunts the secret chambers of the Chateau!"

"She shall be removed, Angelique, since you insist upon it," replied he,
secretly irritated; "but where is the harm? I pledge my faith she shall
not stand in the way of my love for you."

"Better she were dead than do so!" whispered Angelique to herself. "It
is my due, Bigot!" replied she aloud, "you know what I have given up for
your sake!"

"Yes! I know you have banished Le Gardeur de Repentigny when it had been
better to keep him securely in the ranks of the Grand Company. W