Romescos touches Mr. Seabrook on the arm; remarks that such things are only good for certain purposes; although one can make them pay if they know how to trade in them.  But it wants a man with a capable conscience to do the business up profitably.  “No chance o’ your biddin’ on ’um, is there, colonel?” he enquires, with a significant leer, folding his arms with the indifference of a field-marshal.  After a few minutes’ pause, during which Mr. Seabrook seems manufacturing an answer, he shrugs his shoulders, and takes a few pleasing steps, as if moved to a waltzing humour.  “Don’t scare up the like o’ that gal-nigger every day,” he adds.  Again, as if moved by some sudden idea, he approaches Annette, and placing his hand on her head, continues:  “If this ain’t tumbling down a man’s affairs by the run!  Why, colonel, ’taint more nor three years since old Hugh Marston war looked on as the tallest planter on the Ashley; and he thought just as much o’ these young ’uns as if their mother had belonged to one of the first families.  Now-I pity the poor fellow!-because he tried to save ’em from being sold as slaves, they-his creditors-think he has got more property stowed away somewhere.  They’re going to cell him, just to try his talent at putting away things.”

The “prime fellows” and wenches of the darker and coarser quality have all been disposed of; and the vender (the same gentlemanly man we have described selling Marston’s undisputed property) now orders the children to be brought forward.  Romescos, eagerly seizing them by the arms, brings them forward through the crowd, places them upon the stand, before the eager gaze of those assembled.  Strangely placed upon the strange block, the spectators close in again, anxious to gain the best position for inspection:  but little children cannot stand the gaze of such an assemblage:  no; Annette turns toward Nicholas, and with a childish embrace throws her tiny arms about his neck, buries her face on his bosom.  The child of misfortune seeks shelter from that shame of her condition, the evidence of which is strengthened by the eager glances of those who stand round the shambles, ready to purchase her fate.  Even the vender,—­distinguished gentleman that he is, and very respectably allied by marriage to one of the “first families,"-is moved with a strange sense of wrong at finding himself in a position somewhat repugnant to his feelings.  He cannot suppress a blush that indicates an innate sense of shame.

“Here they are, gentlemen! let no man say I have not done my duty.  You have, surely, all seen the pedigree of these children set forth in the morning papers; and, now that you have them before you, the living specimen of their beauty will fully authenticate anything therein set forth,” the vender exclaims, affecting an appearance in keeping with his trade.  Notwithstanding this, there is a faltering nervousness in his manner, betraying all his efforts at dissimulation.  He reads the invoice of human property to the listening crowd, dilates on its specific qualities with powers of elucidation that would do credit to any member of the learned profession.  This opinion is confirmed by Romescos, the associations of whose trade have gained for him a very intimate acquaintance with numerous gentlemen of that very honourable profession.