Rigaud feared the coming challenge,
and whispered audibly in the ear of St. Luc,--
"Count a hundred before you speak, La Corne! The Intendant is to be
taken on his word just at present, like any other gentleman! Fight
for fact, not for fancy! Be prudent, La Corne! we know nothing to
the contrary of what Bigot swears to!"
"But I doubt much to the contrary, Rigaud!" replied La Corne, with
accent of scorn and incredulity.
The old soldier chafed hard under the bit, but his suspicions were
not facts. He felt that he had no solid grounds upon which to
accuse the Intendant in the special matter referred to in the
letters. He was, moreover, although hot in temperament, soon master
of himself, and used to the hardest discipline of self-control.
"I was, perhaps, over hasty, Rigaud!" replied La Corne St. Luc,
recovering his composure; but when I think of Bigot in the past, how
can I but mistrust him in the present? However, be the girl above
ground or under ground, I will, par Dieu, not leave a stone unturned
in New France until I find the lost child of my old friend! La
Corne St.
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