e keeper of the letter; but with this surmise the
overseer did not trouble himself. He turned the letter over and over,
examined the seal of Colonel Dumont, which was upon it, and, at last, as
though he had satisfied the warning voice of conscience, he snapped the
wax, and opened it. The letter was quite a lengthy one, yet, without
raising his eyes, he completed the reading of it. A faint smile of
satisfaction played upon his lips, as he re-folded the paper, and
returned it to the envelope.

"You have a letter, Francois?" said his wife, who had watched him in
silence as he read, and who noticed the complacent smile its contents
had produced.

"Yes, Delia, and our fortune is at last come," replied Dalhousie,
rising, and bestowing a kiss upon the fair cheek of the lady.

"Is it from France?"

"No, dear; it is from the land of spirits!" answered Dalhousie, with a
good-natured laugh.

"Indeed! I was not aware that you had a correspondent there."

"But I have; and I am exceedingly obliged to him for putting me in
possession of such useful information as this letter contains."

"Pray, who is your ghostly correspondent?"

"Colonel Dumont,--a deceased brother of the worthy Jaspar, in whose
employ we now are."

"Do not jest, Francois!" said the lady, as a feeling akin to
superstition rose in her mind.

"Jest or not, the letter was written by him," continued her husband,
still retaining his playful smile.

"To you?"

"Not exactly; but I presume he meant it for me, or it would not have
slipped so easily through Mr. Dumont's fingers into mine."

"To whom is it directed, Francois?"

"You grow inquisitive, Delia. I will tell you all about it in a few
days. I must go now and see that the hands are all in their quarters;"
and Dalhousie, to avoid unpleasant interrogatories, left the room.

The overseer went the rounds of the quarters, more as a matter of form
than of any interest he felt in his occupation. A gentleman by birth and
education, these duties were extremely distasteful to him,--embraced
because necessity compelled him. His mind seemed far away from his
business, for a party of negroes passed him on his return, upon whom he
did not bestow the usual benediction the boys receive when found out
after hours.

"Strike while the iron is hot," muttered he, as he entered the house,
and gave his lantern to a servant. "If I don't do it to-night, it may be
too late another time. The letter is in safe hands; and, as