he had thrown himself.
He stood waiting. Now was the decisive moment; and Toussaint knew it
was. Yet he stood speechless.

"I left my son in your charge," said Paul, at length.

"You did: and I--"

"And you murdered him."

"No, Paul! I executed justice upon him. Hear me, brother, once for
all. I am heart-broken for you as a brother: but as a magistrate, I
will admit no censure. As his father in your stead, I was, as the event
has proved, too ambitious for him: but, as a ruler, I did but my duty."

"Yes! You have been ambitious! You have chosen your duty!"

"My ambition was for him, Paul. As for my duty--remember that I have
too a child whom, by that act, I doomed to worse than death."

"You see what liberty has brought to us. Look at the family of
Ouverture--consider what has befallen since your struggle for liberty
began; and then, perhaps, you will give over struggling. Welcome the
French--go back to Breda--send me home to my hut on the shore, that I
may die in such peace as is left to a childless man. Why do you not
answer me, Toussaint? Why will you not give us a last chance of peace?
I must obey you at the city gate; but I will importune you here. Why
will you not do as I say?"

"Because I know that some--and the Ouvertures among them--were not born
to live at ease--to pass their days in peace. I feel that some--and the
Ouvertures among them--are born to suffer--to struggle and to die for
their race. If you would know why, ask their Creator. I myself would
fain know why. Meantime, the will of God is so clear, that I have
devoted, not myself only, but my children. My sons, you know--"

"And not your children only, but your brother and his child."

"No. Moyse cast himself away. And, as for you, your hut still stands,
as you say. Go to it, if you will; or make friends with the French, if
you desire to be a slave again. You have suffered too much by me for me
to ask you ever to serve me more. I shall never desire you to dedicate
yourself anew to pain, in this crisis. Go and seek for ease. I shall
incessantly pray that you may find it."

"I shall not seek what is not to be found, Toussaint. I have never
dared wretchedness as you have: but since I am and must be wretched, I
will be an Ouverture. Your eye and your voice make me an Ouverture
again, even yet. Give me your commands."

"Read this proclamation, with the eye of an Ouverture. Well! Do you
like it? How do you underst