The furious letter of La Pompadour repressed
the prompting of his audacious spirit to acknowledge the deed openly
and defy the consequences, as he would have done at any less price
than the loss of the favor of his powerful and jealous patroness.
The broad, black gateway of a lie stood open to receive him, and
angry as he was at the words of St. Luc, Bigot took refuge in it--
and lied.
"Chevalier La Corne!" said he, with a tremendous effort at self-
control, "I do not affect to misunderstand your words, and in time
and place will make you account for them! but I will say, for the
contentment of His Excellency and of the other gentlemen at the
council-table, that whatever in times past have been my relations
with the daughter of the Baron de St. Castin, and I do not deny
having shown her many courtesies, her abduction was not my work, and
if she be lost, I do not know where to find her!"
"Upon your word as a gentleman," interrogated the Governor, "will
you declare you know not where she is to be found?"
"Upon my word as a gentleman!" The Intendant's face was suffused
with passion.
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