"Well, I won't pull down your idol, then! I respect the brave old
soldier, too; but could wish him with the army in Flanders!"

"Thousands of estimable people augur ill from the accession of the
Intendant Bigot in New France, besides the Chevalier La Corne,"
Amelie said after a pause. She disliked censuring even the
Intendant.

"Yes," replied Angelique, "the Honnetes Gens do, who think
themselves bound to oppose the Intendant, because he uses the royal
authority in a regal way, and makes every one, high and low, do
their devoir to Church and State."

"While he does his devoir to none! But I am no politician,
Angelique. But when so many good people call the Intendant a bad
man, it behooves one to be circumspect in 'cultivating him,' as you
call it."

"Well, he is rich enough to pay for all the broken pots: they say he
amassed untold wealth in Acadia, Amelie!"

"And lost the province for the king!" retorted Amelie, with all the
asperity her gentle but patriotic spirit was capable of. "Some say
he sold the country."

"I don't care!" replied the reckless beauty, "he is like Joseph in
Egypt, next to Pharaoh in authority. He can shoe his horses with
gold! I wish he would shoe me with golden slippers--I would wear
them, Amelie!"