These things De Pean had wagered on the head of Angelique against
the wild love of Le Gardeur, the empty admiration of Bigot, and the
flatteries of the troop of idle gentlemen who dawdled around her.
He felt confident that in the end victory would be his, and the fair
Angelique would one day lay her hand in his as the wife of Hugues de
Pean.
De Pean knew that in her heart she had no love for the Intendant,
and the Intendant no respect for her. Moreover, Bigot would not
venture to marry the Queen of Sheba without the sanction of his
jealous patroness at Court. He might possess a hundred mistresses
if he liked, and be congratulated on his bonnes fortunes, but not
one wife, under the penalty of losing the favor of La Pompadour, who
had chosen a future wife for him out of the crowd of intriguantes
who fluttered round her, basking like butterflies in the sunshine of
her semi-regal splendor.
Bigot had passed a wild night at the Palace among the partners of
the Grand Company, who had met to curse the peace and drink a speedy
renewal of the war.
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