ting upon Caroline
herself, for although vexed at her coming to him at all, he could not
find it in his heart to curse her. But cursing or blessing availed
nothing now. Time was pressing, and he must act.

That Caroline would be sought after in every nook and corner of the
land, he knew full well, from the character of La Corne St. Luc and of
her father. His own chateau would not be spared in the general search,
and he doubted if the secret chamber would remain a secret from the keen
eyes of these men. He surmised that others knew of its existence besides
himself: old servitors, and women who had passed in and out of it in
times gone by. Dame Tremblay, who did know of it, was not to be trusted
in a great temptation. She was in heart the Charming Josephine still,
and could be bribed or seduced by any one who bid high enough for her.

Bigot had no trust whatever in human nature. He felt he had no guarantee
against a discovery, farther than interest or fear barred the door
against inquiry. He could not rely for a moment upon the inviolability
of his own house. La Corne St. Luc would demand to search, and he, bound
by his declarations of non-complicity in the abduction of Caroline,
could offer no reason for refusal without arousing instant suspicion;
and La Corne was too sagacious not to fasten upon the remotest trace of
Caroline and follow it up to a complete discovery.

She could not, therefore, remain longer in the Chateau--this was
absolute; and he must, at whatever cost and whatever risk, remove her to
a fresh place of concealment, until the storm blew over, or some other
means of escape from the present difficulty offered themselves in the
chapter of accidents.

In accordance with this design, Bigot, under pretence of business, had
gone off the very next day after the meeting of the Governor's Council,
in the direction of the Three Rivers, to arrange with a band of
Montagnais, whom he could rely upon, for the reception of Caroline,
in the disguise of an Indian girl, with instructions to remove their
wigwams immediately and take her off with them to the wild, remote
valley of the St. Maurice.

The old Indian chief, eager to oblige the Intendant, had assented
willingly to his proposal, promising the gentlest treatment of the lady,
and a silent tongue concerning her.

Bigot was impressive in his commands upon these points, and the chief
pledged his faith upon them, delighted beyond measure by the promise of
an amp