f Dominique Gayarre."

"Gayarre! Gayarre! Oh, God!"

I could only ejaculate. The announcement had almost deprived me of the
power of speech. A sensation of numbness seemed to creep over me--a
prostration of spirit, as if some horrid danger was impending and nigh,
and I without the power to avert it.

Strange this thought had not occurred to me before. I had supposed that
the quadroon would be sold to some buyer in the ordinary course; some
one who would be disposed to _resell_ at a profit--perhaps an enormous
one; but in time I should be prepared for that. Strange I had never
thought of Gayarre becoming the purchaser. But, indeed, since the hour
when I first heard of the bankruptcy, my thoughts had been running too
wildly to permit me to reflect calmly upon anything.

Now it was clear. It was no longer a conjecture; most certainly,
Gayarre would become the master of Aurore. Ere another night her body
would be his property. Her soul--Oh, God! Am I awake?--do I dream?

"I had a suspicion of this before," continued D'Hauteville; "for I may
tell you I know something of this family history--of Eugenie Besancon--
of Aurore--of Gayarre the avocat. I had a suspicion before that Gayarre
might desire to be the owner of Aurore. But now that you have told me
of the scene in the dining-room, I no longer doubt this villain's
design. Oh! it is infamous."

"Still further proof of it," continued D'Hauteville. "There was a man
on the boat--you did not notice him, perhaps--an agent for Gayarre in
such matters. A negro-trader--a fit tool for such a purpose. No doubt
his object in coming down to the city is to be present at the sale--to
bid for the poor girl."

"But why," I asked, catching at a straw of hope,--"why, since he wishes
to possess Aurore, could he not have effected it by private contract?--
why send her to the slave-market to public auction?"

"The law requires it. The slaves of an estate in bankruptcy must be
sold publicly to the highest bidder. Besides, Monsieur, bad as may be
this man, he dare not for the sake of his character act as you have
suggested. He is a thorough hypocrite, and, with all his wickedness,
wishes to stand well before the world. There are many who believe
Gayarre a good man! He dare not act openly in this villainous design,
and will not appear in it. To save scandal, the negro-trader will be
supposed to purchase for himself. It is infamous!"

"Beyond conception! Oh! what