Canada -- History -- To 1763 (New France) -- Fiction; Historical fiction
In despair to find an answer to the question, “What must be done?” she
rose suddenly and rang the bell. The door opened, and the smiling face
and clear eye of Lizette looked in. It was Angélique's last chance, but
it was lost. It was not Lizette she had rung for. Her resolution was
taken.
“My dear mistress!” exclaimed Lizette, “I feared you had fallen asleep.
It is almost day! May I now assist you to undress for bed?” Voluble
Lizette did not always wait to be first spoken to by her mistress.
“No, Lizette, I was not asleep; I do not want to undress; I have much
to do. I have writing to do before I retire; send Fanchon Dodier here.”
Angélique had a forecast that it was necessary to deceive Lizette, who,
without a word, but in no serene humor, went to summon Fanchon to wait
on her mistress.
Fanchon presently came in with a sort of triumph glittering in her black
eye. She had noticed the ill humor of Lizette, but had not the slightest
idea why she had been summoned to wait on Angélique instead of her own
maid. She esteemed it quite an honor, however.
“Fanchon Dodier!” said she, “I have lost my jewels at the ball; I cannot
rest until I find them; you are quicker-witted than Lizette: tell me
what to do to find them, and I will give you a dress fit for a lady.”
Angélique with innate craft knew that her question would bring forth the
hoped-for reply.
Fanchon's eyes dilated with pleasure at such a mark of confidence. “Yes,
my Lady,” replied she, “if I had lost my jewels I should know what to
do. But ladies who can read and write and who have the wisest gentlemen
to give them counsel do not need to seek advice where poor habitan girls
go when in trouble and perplexity.”
“And where is that, Fanchon? Where would you go if in trouble and
perplexity?”
“My Lady, if I had lost all my jewels,”--Fanchon's keen eye noticed that
Angélique had lost none of hers, but she made no remark on it,--“if I
had lost all mine, I should go see my aunt Josephte Dodier. She is the
wisest woman in all St. Valier; if she cannot tell you all you wish to
know, nobody can.”
“What! Dame Josephte Dodier, whom they call La Corriveau? Is she your
aunt?”
Angélique knew very well she was. But it was her cue to pretend
ignorance in order to impose on Fanchon.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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