He had lately importuned Le Gardeur,
and obtained a large sum from him.
She looked up with well-affected indignation. "How can you think
such a thing, Le Gardeur? my brother was not in my thought. It was
the Intendant I wished to ask you about,--you know him better than I."
This was not true. Angelique had studied the Intendant in mind,
person, and estate, weighing him scruple by scruple to the 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.
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