"
"A letter! Oh, what mystery is all this? A letter for me! Is it
from the Intendant?"
"No, my Lady, it is from a woman." Caroline blushed and trembled as
she took it from the old crone.
A woman! It flashed upon the mind of Caroline that the letter was
important. She opened it with trembling fingers, anticipating she
knew not what direful tidings when her eyes ran over the clear
handwriting.
La Corriveau had written to the effect that she was an unknown
friend, desirous of serving her in a moment of peril. The Baron de
St. Castin had traced her to New France, and had procured from the
King instructions to the Governor to search for her everywhere and
to send her to France. Other things of great import, the writer
said, she had also to communicate, if Caroline would grant her a
private interview in the Chateau.
There was a passage leading from the old deserted watch-tower to the
vaulted chamber, continued the letter, and the writer would without
further notice come on the following night to Beaumanoir, and knock
at the arched door of her chamber about the hour of midnight, when,
if Caroline pleased to admit her, she would gladly inform her of
very important matters relating to herself, to the Intendant, and to
the Baron de St.
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