The drawn expression of the old merchant’s mouth was something painful to witness.  It seemed as if every nerve was pulled to its utmost tension by the excitement in his soul.  He obviously had to make a strong effort to speak when he said, “Do you suppose, sir, that a merchant of my standing is going to leave his property to negroes?”

“You forget that this young man is pure Anglo-Saxon,” replied Mr. King.

“I tell you, sir,” rejoined Mr. Bell, “that the mulatto who was with him was his wife; and if he is proved to be my grandson, I’ll never see him, nor have anything to do with him, unless he gives her up; not if you educate him with the Prince Royal of France or England.  A pretty dilemma you have placed me in, sir.  My property, it seems, must either go to Gerald, who you say has negro blood in his veins, or to this other fellow, who is a slave with a negro wife.”

“But she could be educated in Europe also,” pleaded Mr. King; “and I could establish him permanently in lucrative business abroad.  By this arrangement—­”

“Go to the Devil with your arrangements!” interrupted the merchant, losing all command of himself.  “If you expect to arrange a pack of mulatto heirs for me, you are mistaken, sir.”

He rose up and struck his chair upon the floor with a vengeance, and his face was purple with rage, as he vociferated:  “I’ll have legal redress for this, sir.  I’ll expose your wife, sir.  I’ll lay my damages at a million, sir.”

Mr. King bowed and said, “I will see you again when you are more calm.”

As he went out, he heard Mr. Bell striding across the room and thrashing the furniture about.  “Poor old gentleman!” thought he.  “I hope I shall succeed in convincing him how little I value money in comparison with righting this wrong, as far as possible.  Alas! it would never have taken place had there not been a great antecedent wrong; and that again grew out of the monstrous evil of slavery.”

He had said to the old merchant, “I will see you again when you are calmer.”  And when he saw him again, he was indeed calm, for he had died suddenly, of a fit produced by violent excitement.

CHAPTER XXXV.

A few weeks after the funeral of Mr. Bell, Gerald wrote the following letter to Mr. King:—­

“My honored and dear Friend,—­Lily-mother has decided to go to Europe this fall, that I may have certain educational advantages which she has planned for me.  That is the only reason she assigns; but she is evidently nervous about your investigations, and I think a wish to be out of the country for the present has had some effect in producing this decision.  I have not sought to influence her concerning this, or the other important point you wot of.  My desire is to conform to her wishes, and promote her happiness in any way she chooses.  This it is my duty as well as my pleasure to do.  She intends to remain