Her quick eye, which nothing could escape, had seen De Pean the
first time he passed the house. She knew that he had come to visit
her, and seeing the horse of the Intendant at the door, had forborne
to enter,--that would not have been the way with Le Gardeur, she
thought. He would have entered all the readier had even the Dauphin
held her in conversation.
Angelique was woman enough to like best the bold gallant who carries
the female heart by storm and puts the parleying garrison of denial
to the sword, as the Sabine women admired the spirit of their Roman
captors and became the most faithful of wives.
De Pean, clever and unprincipled, was a menial in his soul, as
cringing to his superiors as he was arrogant to those below him.
"Fellow!" said he to Bigot's groom, "how long has the Intendant been
here?"
"All the afternoon, Chevalier," replied the man, respectfully
uncovering his head.
"Hum! and have they sat at the window all the time?"
"I have no eyes to watch my master," replied the groom; "I do not
know."
"Oh!" was the reply of De Pean, as he suddenly reflected that it
were best for himself also not to be seen watching his master too
closely.
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