He surmised that others knew of
its existence besides himself: old servitors, and women who had
passed in and out of it in times gone by. Dame Tremblay, who did
know of it, was not to be trusted in a great temptation. She was in
heart the Charming Josephine still, and could be bribed or seduced
by any one who bid high enough for her.
Bigot had no trust whatever in human nature. He felt he had no
guarantee against a discovery, farther than interest or fear barred
the door against inquiry. He could not rely for a moment upon the
inviolability of his own house. La Corne St. Luc would demand to
search, and he, bound by his declarations of non-complicity in the
abduction of Caroline, could offer no reason for refusal without
arousing instant suspicion; and La Corne was too sagacious not to
fasten upon the remotest trace of Caroline and follow it up to a
complete discovery.
She could not, therefore, remain longer in the Chateau--this was
absolute; and he must, at whatever cost and whatever risk, remove
her to a fresh place of concealment, until the storm blew over, or
some other means of escape from the present difficulty offered
themselves in the chapter of accidents.
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