"
Bigot understood her now, and gave an angry start. Angelique did
not shrink from the temper she had evoked.
"Heavens! how you look, Chevalier!" said she, in a tone of half
banter. "One would think I had accused you of murder instead of
saving a fair lady's life in the forest; although woman-killing is
no murder I believe, by the laws of gallantry, as read by gentlemen--
of fashion."
Bigot rose up with a hasty gesture of impatience and sat down again.
After all, he thought, what could this girl know about Caroline de
St. Castin? He answered her with an appearance of frankness,
deeming that to be the best policy.
"Yes, Mademoiselle, I one day found a poor suffering woman in the
forest. I took her to the Chateau, where she now is. Many ladies
beside her have been to Beaumanoir. Many more will yet come and go,
until I end my bachelordom and place one there in perpetuity as
'mistress of my heart and home,' as the song says."
Angelique could coquette in half-meanings with any lady of honor at
Court. "Well, Chevalier, it will be your fault not to find one fit
to place there.
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