The Quadroon (Volume 1); Or, a Lover's Adventures in Louisiana. Or, a Lover's Adventures in Louisiana (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER IV. THE SLAVE-MART. I Once more fixed my eyes upon the entrance, scrutinising every form that passed in. As yet no appearance of D'Hauteville ! Surely he would soon arrive. He said at twelve o'clock. It was now one, and still he had not come. No doubt he would come, and in proper time. After all, I need not be so anxious as to the time. Her name was last upon the list. It would be a long time. I had full reliance upon my new friend ?almost unknown, but not untried. His conduct on the previous night had inspired me with perfect confidence. He would not disappoint me. His being thus late did not shake my faith in him. There was some difficulty about his obtaining the money, for it was money I expected him to bring. He had hinted as much. No doubt it was that that was detaining him; but he would be in time. He knew that her name was at the bottom of the list ? the last lot? Lot 65 ! Notwithstanding my confidence inD'Hau- teville I was ill-at-ease. It was very natural I should be so, and requires no explanation. I kept my gaze upon the door, hoping every moment to see him enter. Behind me I heard the voice of the auctioneer, in constant and monotonous repetition, interrupted at intervals by the smart rap of his ivory mallet. I knew that the sale was going on! and, by the frequent strokes of the hammer, I could tell that it was rapidly progressing. Although but some half-dozen of the slaves had yet been disposed of, I could not help fancying that they were galloping down the list, and thather turn would soon come?too soon. With the fancy my heart beat quicker and wilder. Surely D'Hauteville will not disappoint me ? A group stood near me, talking gaily. They were all young men, and fashionably dressed, ?the scions I could tell of the Creole noblesse. They co...