Despite discouraging prospects, he found a consolation in the
reflection that, failing his own vain efforts to please Amelie de
Repentigny for sake of her wealth, the woman he most loved for sake
of her beauty and spirit would yet drop like a golden fleece into
his arms, either through spite at her false lover or through love of
himself. De Pean cared little which, for it was the person, not the
inclination of Angelique, that carried away captive the admiration
of the Chevalier de Pean.
The better to accomplish his crafty design of abducting Le Gardeur,
De Pean had taken up his lodging at the village inn. He knew that
in the polite hospitalities of the Manor House he could find few
opportunities to work upon the susceptible nature of Le Gardeur;
that too many loving eyes would there watch over his safety, and
that he was himself suspected, and his presence only tolerated on
account of the business which had ostensibly brought him there. At
the inn he would be free to work out his schemes, sure of success if
by any means and on any pretence he could draw Le Gardeur thither
and rouse into life and fury the sleeping serpents of his old
propensities,--the love of gaming, the love of wine, and the love
of Angelique.
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