" Her excited imagination outflew
even the inventions of La Corriveau. "Bigot has heard of my peril,
and sent you here at midnight to take me away to your forest home
until this search be over. Is it not so? Francois Bigot did not
forget me in my danger, even while he was away!"
"Yes, lady, the Intendant sent me to conduct you to St. Valier, to
hide you there in a sure retreat until the search be over," replied
La Corriveau, calmly eyeing her from head to foot.
"It is like him! He is not unkind when left to himself. It is so
like the Francois Bigot I once knew! But tell me, woman, what said
he further? Did you see him, did you hear him? Tell me all he said
to you."
"I saw him, lady, and heard him," replied La Corriveau, taking the
bouquet in her fingers," but he said little more than I have told
you. The Intendant is a stern man, and gives few words save
commands to those of my condition. But he bade me convey to you a
token of his love; you would know its meaning, he said. I have it
safe, lady, in this basket,--shall I give it to you?"
"A token of his love, of Francois Bigot's love to me! Are you a
woman and could delay giving it so long? Why gave you it not at
first? I should not have doubted you then.
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