"In
the kingdom of love, as in the kingdom of heaven, the last shall be
first and the first last. May I be the last, Mademoiselle?"
"You will certainly be the last, De Pean; I promise that."
Angelique laughed provokingly. She saw the eye of the Intendant
watching her. She began to think he remained longer in the society
of Cadet than was due to herself.
"Thanks, Mademoiselle," said De Pean, hardly knowing whether her
laugh was affirmative or negative; "but I envy Le Gardeur his
precedence."
Angelique's love for Le Gardeur was the only key which ever unlocked
her real feelings. When the fox praised the raven's voice and
prevailed on her to sing, he did not more surely make her drop the
envied morsel out of her mouth than did Angelique drop the
mystification she had worn so coquettishly before De Pean.
"Tell me, De Pean," said she, "is it true or not that Le Gardeur de
Repentigny is consoling himself among the woods of Tilly with a fair
cousin of his, Heloise de Lotbiniere?"
De Pean had his revenge, and he took it. "It is true; and no
wonder," said he.
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