To send her away without
discovery seemed difficult. To retain her at Beaumanoir in face of
the search which he knew would be made by the Governor and the
indomitable La Corne St. Luc, was impossible. The quandary
oppressed him. He saw no escape from the dilemma; but, to the
credit of Bigot be it said, that not for a moment did he entertain
a thought of doing injury to the hapless Caroline, or of taking
advantage of her lonely condition to add to her distress, merely to
save himself.
He fell into a train of sober reflections unusual to him at any
time, and scarcely paid any attention to the discussion of affairs
at the council-table for the rest of the sitting. He rose hastily
at last, despairing to find any outlet of escape from the
difficulties which surrounded him in this unlucky affair.
With His Excellency's consent, he said, they would do no more
business that day. He was tired, and would rise. Dinner was ready
at the Palace, where he had some wine of the golden plant of Ay-Ay,
which he would match against the best in the Castle of St.
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