She thought no more of the temptation from which she had not
prayed to be delivered, just as the daring skater forgets the depths
that underlie the thin ice over which he skims, careless as a bird
in the sunshine.
An hour more was struck by the loud clock of the Recollets. The
drums and bugles of the garrison sounded the signal for the closing
of the gates of the city and the setting of the watch for the night.
Presently the heavy tramp of the patrol was heard in the street.
Sober bourgeois walked briskly home, while belated soldiers ran
hastily to get into their quarters ere the drums ceased beating the
tattoo.
The sharp gallop of a horse clattered on the stony pavement, and
stopped suddenly at the door. A light step and the clink of a
scabbard rang on the steps. A familiar rap followed. Angelique,
with the infallible intuition of a woman who recognizes the knock
and foostep of her lover from ten thousand others, sprang up and met
Le Gardeur de Repentigny as he entered the boudoir. She received
him with warmth, even fondness, for she was proud of Le Gardeur and
loved him in her secret heart beyond all the rest of her admirers.
Pages:
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323