“If our friend Mr. Bright was with us, he would say the Lord took him at his word,” rejoined Mr. Blumenthal, smiling.

An earnest discussion ensued concerning the possibilities of the case, and several days were spent in active investigation.  But all the additional light obtained was from a sailor, who had been one of the boat’s crew that conveyed the fugitives to the islands in the harbor; and all he could tell was that he heard them call each other George and Henry.  When he was shown a colored photograph, which Gerald had just had taken for his Rose-mother, he at once said that was the one named George.

“This poor fellow must be rescued,” said Mr. King, after they returned from their unsatisfactory conference with the sailor.  “Mr. Bell may know who purchased him, and a conversation with him seems to be the only alternative.”

“Judging by my own experience, your task is not to be envied,” rejoined Mr. Percival.  “He will be in a tremendous rage.  But perhaps the lesson will do him good.  I remember Francis Jackson said at the time, that if his dark-complexioned grandson should be sent into slavery, it might bring him to a realizing sense of the state of things he was doing his utmost to encourage.”

The undertaking did indeed seem more formidable to Mr. King than anything he had yet encountered; but true to his sense of duty he resolved to go bravely through with it.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

The old merchant received Mr. King with marked politeness; for though he suspected him of anti-slavery proclivities, and despised him for that weakness, he had great respect for a man whose name was as good as gold, and who was the father of such an eligible match as Eulalia.

After some discursive conversation, Mr. King said, “I am desirous to tell you a short story, if you will have patience to listen to it.”

“Certainly, sir,” replied the old gentleman.

His visitor accordingly began by telling of Mr. Royal’s having formed one of those quadroon alliances so common in New Orleans; of his having died insolvent; and of his two handsome octoroon daughters having been claimed as slaves by his creditors.

“What the deuce do you suppose I care about his octoroon daughters?” interrupted Mr. Bell, impatiently.  “I wasn’t one of his creditors.”

“Perhaps you will take some interest in it,” rejoined Mr. King, “when I tell you that the eldest of them was married to Mr. Gerald Fitzgerald of Savannah, and that she is still living.”

“Do you mean the Mr. Fitzgerald who married my daughter Lily?” inquired he.

“I do mean him,” was the response.

“It’s false,” vociferated Mr. Bell, growing almost purple in the face.

“No, sir, it is not false,” replied Mr. King.  “But you need not be so much excited.  The first marriage did not render the second illegal; first, because a sham ceremony was performed to deceive the inexperienced girl; and secondly, because, according to the laws of the South, any marriage with a slave, however sanctified by religious forms, is utterly void in law.”