Did not the Marquise de Pompadour
send Mademoiselle Vaubernier to the Bastile for only smiling upon
the King? It is a small thing I ask of you, Bigot, to test your
fidelity,--you cannot refuse me, come!" added she, with a wondrous
transformation of look and manner from storm and gloom to warmth and
sunshine.
"I cannot and will not do it. Hark you, Angelique, I dare not do
it! Powerful as I may seem, the family of that lady is too potent
to risk the experiment upon. I would fain oblige you in this
matter, but it would be the height of madness to do so."
"Well, then, Bigot, do this, if you will not do that! Place her in
the Convent of the Ursulines: it will suit her and me both,--no
better place in the world to tame an unruly spirit. She is one of
the pious souls who will be at home there, with plenty of prayers
and penances, and plenty of sins to pray for every day."
"But I cannot force her to enter the Convent, Angelique. She will
think herself not good enough to go there; besides, the nuns
themselves would have scruples to receive her.
Pages:
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630