ith innate craft knew that her question would bring forth the
hoped-for reply.

Fanchon's eyes dilated with pleasure at such a mark of confidence. "Yes,
my Lady," replied she, "if I had lost my jewels I should know what to
do. But ladies who can read and write and who have the wisest gentlemen
to give them counsel do not need to seek advice where poor habitan girls
go when in trouble and perplexity."

"And where is that, Fanchon? Where would you go if in trouble and
perplexity?"

"My Lady, if I had lost all my jewels,"--Fanchon's keen eye noticed that
Angelique had lost none of hers, but she made no remark on it,--"if I
had lost all mine, I should go see my aunt Josephte Dodier. She is the
wisest woman in all St. Valier; if she cannot tell you all you wish to
know, nobody can."

"What! Dame Josephte Dodier, whom they call La Corriveau? Is she your
aunt?"

Angelique knew very well she was. But it was her cue to pretend
ignorance in order to impose on Fanchon.

"Yes, ill-natured people call her La Corriveau, but she is my aunt,
nevertheless. She is married to my uncle Louis Dodier, but is a lady,
by right of her mother, who came from France, and was once familiar with
all the great dames of the Court. It was a great secret why her mother
left France and came to St. Valier; but I never knew what it was. People
used to shake their heads and cross themselves when speaking of her, as
they do now when speaking of Aunt Josephte, whom they call La Corriveau;
but they tremble when she looks at them with her black, evil eye,
as they call it. She is a terrible woman, is Aunt Josephte! but oh,
Mademoiselle, she can tell you things past, present, and to come! If she
rails at the world, it is because she knows every wicked thing that is
done in it, and the world rails at her in return; but people are afraid
of her all the same."

"But is it not wicked? Is it not forbidden by the Church to consult a
woman like her, a sorciere?" Angelique took a sort of perverse merit to
herself for arguing against her own resolution.

"Yes, my Lady! but although forbidden by the Church, the girls all
consult her, nevertheless, in their losses and crosses; and many of the
men, too, for she does know what is to happen, and how to do things,
does Aunt Josephte. If the clergy cannot tell a poor girl about her
sweetheart, and how to keep him in hand, why should she not go and
consult La Corriveau, who can?"

"Fanchon, I would not care to consult