pretty Agathe when I came home. The saucy minx almost kissed my
eyes out--to dry the tears of joy in them, she said!"

Amelie blushed deeply at the praises bestowed upon her, yet felt
glad to know that her godfather retained all his old affection.
"Where is Le Gardeur?" asked he, as she took his arm and walked a
few paces apart from the throng.

Amelie colored deeply, and hesitated a moment. "I do not know,
godfather! We have not seen Le Gardeur since our arrival." Then
after a nervous silence she added, "I have been told that he is at
Beaumanoir, hunting with His Excellency the Intendant."

La Corne, seeing her embarrassment, understood the reluctance of her
avowal, and sympathized with it. An angry light flashed beneath his
shaggy eyelashes, but he suppressed his thoughts. He could not help
remarking, however, "With the Intendant at Beaumanoir! I could have
wished Le Gardeur in better company! No good can come of his
intimacy with Bigot; Amelie, you must wean him from it. He should
have been in the city to receive you and the Lady de Tilly."

"So he doubtless would have been, had he known of our coming. We
sent word, but he was away when our messenger reached the city."

Amelie felt half ashamed, for she was conscious that she was
offering something unreal to extenuate the fault of her brother--
her hopes rather than her convictions.

"Well, well! goddaughter! we shall, at any rate, soon have the
pleasure of seeing Le Gardeur. The Intendant himself has been