Who was he? and who was she?"
questioned Bigot, excitedly.
"The argument runs like water down hill, Bigot! but, par Dieu! I
would not have believed that New France contained two women of such
mettle as the one to contrive, the other to execute, a masterpiece
of devilment like that!"
"Since we find another hand in the dish, it may not have been
Angelique after all," remarked Bigot. "It is hard to believe one so
fair and free-spoken guilty of so dark and damnable a crime." Bigot
would evidently be glad to find himself in error touching his
suspicions.
"Fairest without is often foulest within, Bigot," answered Cadet,
doggedly. "Open speech in a woman is often an open trap to catch
fools! Angelique des Meloises is free-spoken and open-handed enough
to deceive a conclave of cardinals; but she has the lightest heels
in the city. Would you not like to see her dance a ballet de
triomphe on the broad flagstone I laid over the grave of that poor
girl? If you would, you have only to marry her, and she will give a
ball in the secret chamber!"
"Be still, Cadet! I could take you by the throat for suggesting it!
But I will make her prove herself innocent!" exclaimed Bigot, angry
at the cool persistence of Cadet.
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