"Why had she done that?" said he
savagely to himself. "Had she suspected him?"
Bigot could not but conclude that La Pompadour suspected him in this
matter. He saw clearly that she would not trust the search after
this girl to him, because she knew that Caroline de St. Castin had
formerly drawn aside his heart, and that he would have married her
but for the interference of the royal mistress. Whatever might have
been done before in the way of sending Caroline back to Acadia, it
could not be done now, after he had boldly lied before the Governor
and the honorable Council.
One thing seemed absolutely necessary, however. The presence of
Caroline at Beaumanoir must be kept secret at all hazards, until--
until,--and even Bigot, for once, was ashamed of the thoughts which
rushed into his mind,--until he could send her far into the
wilderness, among savage tribes, to remain there until the search
for her was over and the affair forgotten.
This was his first thought. But to send her away into the
wilderness was not easy. A matter which in France would excite the
gossip and curiosity of a league or two of neighborhood would be
carried on the tongues of Indians and voyageurs in the wilds of
North America for thousands of miles.
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