“You’re right there, Captain,” said the Colonel; “and I doubt-to speak honestly-whether Jones ever got much of his property.  There’s a good many stories told, and a great deal of mystery about it that’s got to be explained to my mind.  But you’re a stranger, Captain, and it would not be interesting to the feelings of a Scotchman.  I may give you the details more minutely at some future day.”

“Why, Colonel!” said George, “you should be considerate in your statements.  Remember the immense difficulty that has attended Jones’s affairs-they’re not all settled yet.”

“True, George; and I’m afraid they never will be;—­but there are some very singular appearances connected with it.  I mean no personal disrespect toward those cousins of yours who have figured in the case.  ’Tis bad to call names, but there is a mystery about a certain member of our profession getting rich, when poor Jones declares he’s got nothing, and Lee has had to give up the house,—­I don’t say what for.” * * *

“Yes, strange things must be kept strangely secret in some parts of the world, and only whispered when there’s no wind,” said the Captain.

“But that’s the only case, Captain,” said George; “and the Colonel was indiscreet in recounting it; for from that you may conceive wrong impressions of the best institutions and laws in the world.  Jones was an old fool, led away by his nigger-like affections for them gals of his.  He never knew when he was well off, and always wanted to be with white folk when he was here.  ’Twould been a great deal better if he’d let them youngest gals gone with Pingree and Allston.  They’d have made the tip-top mistresses—­been kept like ladies, and not been bothered, and brought all this trouble upon their heads through these infernal abolitionists.  I really believe the old fool thought some white man would marry them at one time.”

“What harm would there’ve been in that, providing they’re as white as anybody, and got plenty of money, and were handsome?  There must be a singular sensibility, that I don’t understand, exerting itself in your society,” said the Captain laconically.

“Harm!  You’d find out the harm.  Just live in South Carolina a year or two.  ’Tisn’t the fair complexion-we don’t dispute that-but it’s the blood.”

“Oh! then the legal objection,” said the Captain, “is what is so revolting to society, eh!  It may be sown broadcast in licentiousness, then, and custom sustains an immoral element that is devouring the essential bond of society.”

“Excuse me, Captain,” interrupted the Colonel.  “George, you are always taking me upon suppositions.  I only related it to the Captain in order to show the power and integrity of our law, and how South Carolinians frequently sacrifice their own interests to maintain it intact.  Nothing could be more fatal to its vitality than to make provisions which would entail legal preferences.  The law in regard to free niggers leaving the State should