“I have not been quite well for some days past, and poor old Jup annoys me, almost beyond endurance, by his well-meant attentions.  Would you believe it?—­he had prepared a huge stick, the other day, with which to chastise me for giving him the slip, and spending the day, solus, among the hills on the mainland.  I verily believe that my ill looks alone saved me a flogging.

“I have made no addition to my cabinet since we met.

“If you can, in any way, make it convenient, come over with Jupiter.  Do come.  I wish to see you to-night, upon business of importance.  I assure you that it is of the highest importance.

“Ever yours,

“WilliamLegrand.”

There was something in the tone of this note which gave me great uneasiness.  Its whole style differed materially from that of Legrand.  What could he be dreaming of?  What new crotchet possessed his excitable brain!  What “business of the highest importance” could he possibly have to transact?  Jupiter’s account of him boded no good.  I dreaded lest the continued pressure of misfortune had, at length, fairly unsettled the reason of my friend.  Without a moment’s hesitation, therefore, I prepared to accompany the negro.

Upon reaching the wharf, I noticed a scythe and three spades, all apparently new, lying in the bottom of the boat in which we were to embark.

“What is the meaning of all this, Jup?” I inquired.

“Him syfe, massa, and spade.”

“Very true; but what are they doing here?”

“Him de syfe and de spade what Massa Will sis pon my buying for him in de town, and de debbil’s own lot of money I had to gib for ’em.”

“But what, in the name of all that is mysterious, is your ’Massa Will’ going to do with scythes and spades?”

“Dat’s more dan I know, and debbil take me if I don’t blieve ’t is more dan he know, too.  But it’s all cum ob de bug.”

Finding that no satisfaction was to be obtained of Jupiter, whose whole intellect seemed to be absorbed by “de bug,” I now stepped into the boat and made sail.  With a fair and strong breeze we soon ran into the little cove to the northward of Fort Moultrie, and a walk of some two miles brought us to the hut.  It was about three in the afternoon when we arrived.  Legrand had been awaiting us in eager expectation.  He grasped my hand with a nervous empressement, which alarmed me and strengthened the suspicions already entertained.  His countenance was pale even to ghastliness, and his deep-set eyes glared with unnatural lustre.  After some inquiries respecting his health, I asked him, not knowing what better to say, if he had yet obtained the scarabaeus from Lieutenant G—.

“Oh, yes,” he replied, coloring violently, “I got it from him the next morning.  Nothing should tempt me to part with that scarabaeus.  Do you know that Jupiter is quite right about it!”