While Mrs. Swiggs is being entertained by Sister Scudder and her clerical friends in New York, Mr. Snivel is making good his demand on her property in Charleston.  As the agent of Keepum, he has attached her old slaves, and what few pieces of furniture he could find; they will in a few days be sold for the satisfaction of her debts.  Mrs. Swiggs, it must be said, never had any very nice appreciation of debt-paying, holding it much more legitimate that her creditors accept her dignity in satisfaction of any demand they chanced to have against her.  As for her little old house, the last abode of the last of the great Swiggs family,—­that, like numerous other houses of our “very first families,” is mortgaged for more than it is worth, to Mr. Staple the grocer.  We must, however, turn to Mr. Snivel.

Mr. Snivel is seen, on the night after the secret interview at the Charleston Hotel, in a happy mood, passing down King street.  A little, ill-featured man, with a small, but florid face, a keen, lecherous eye, leans on his arm.  They are in earnest conversation.

“I think the mystery is nearly cleared up, Keepum” says Snivel.

“There seems no getting a clue to the early history of this Madame Montford, ’tis true.  Even those who introduced her to Charleston society know nothing of her beyond a certain period.  All anterior to that is wrapped in suspicion,” returns Keepum, fingering his massive gold chain and seals, that pend from his vest, then releasing his hold of Mr. Snivel’s arm, and commencing to button closely his blue dress coat, which is profusely decorated with large gilt buttons.  “She’s the mother of the dashing harlot, or I’m no prophet, nevertheless,” he concludes, shaking his head significantly.

“You may almost swear it-a bad conscience is a horrid bore; d-n me, if I can’t see through the thing. (Mr. Snivel laughs.) Better put our female friends on their guard, eh?”

“They had better drop her as quietly as possible,” rejoins Mr. Keepum, drawing his white glove from off his right hand, and extending his cigar case.

Mr. Snivel having helped himself to a cigar, says:  “D-n me, if she didn’t faint in my arms last night.  I made a discovery that brought something of deep interest back to her mind, and gave her timbers such a shock!  I watched, and read the whole story in her emotions.  One accustomed to the sharps of the legal profession can do this sort of thing.  She is afraid of approaching this beautiful creature, Anna Bonard, seeing the life she lives, and the suspicions it might create in fashionable society, did she pursue such a course to the end of finding out whether she be really the lost child of the relative she refers to so often.  Her object is to find one Mag Munday, who used to knock about here, and with whom the child was left.  But enough of this for the present.”  Thus saying, they enter the house of the old antiquary, and finding no one but Maria at home, Mr. Snivel takes the liberty of throwing his arms about her waist.  This done, he attempts to drag her across the room and upon the sofa.  “Neither your father nor you ever had a better friend,” he says, as the girl struggles from his grasp, shrinks at his feet, and, with a look of disdain, upbraids him for his attempt to take advantage of a lone female.