se for a long period, and was
not acquainted with the history of the past three or four years of the
doctor's life.

His mind was now occupied in devising the means of escape; and just as
he had struck upon a feasible project, he was interrupted by the
entrance of Jerry Swinger, who had been sent by Dr. Vaudelier to
ascertain the present frame of his son's mind, and broach to him the
tidings that he was beneath his father's roof,--a circumstance of which
his watchers were also ignorant.

"Well, stranger, how do you feel yourself, this morning?" asked Jerry.

"Better. That was a cursed hard rap which some one gave me, last night,"
replied Vernon,--as, from the force of habit, we must still call him.

"That are a fack, stranger; the man that gin you that blow has a moughty
hard fist; and I advoise you to keep clear of him, or he will beat you
into mince-meat."

"I will try to do so."

"You will larn to, if he mought have one more chance at that head of
yours."

"Who is he?"

"He's an oncommon fine fellow, and made your cake dough once before."

"Ah, was it Miss Dumont's--that is, the quadroon's servant."

"Quadroon, man!--that's all humbug. But he's the boy, and is bound to
fotch his missus out straight, in the end."

"Well, if she is his mistress, I hope he may. I wish her no harm,
however much appearances belie me."

"Is that a fack, stranger?"

"Certainly; she never did me any harm."

"Then what mought be the reason you were so onmerciful to her?"

"I never used her hardly. My friend said she was his slave, and all I
wished was to have him obtain his own. In short, I was paid for my
services."

"No doubt of it, stranger. But I can't see how the tenth part of a man
could hunt down such a gal as that,--it's onnateral. Besides, you didn't
believe she was a slave."

"'Pon my honor I did, or I would not have lifted a finger. But I see you
have released the rest of your prisoners,--I hope you will be as
generous towards me."

"Don't flatter yourself, stranger!"

"I have a mortal aversion to courts of justice."

"Quite likely," returned Jerry, pleased with the man's frankness.

"Besides, I belong to a respectable family, who will not mind paying
something handsome to avoid exposure."

"Can't be bought, stranger; besides, respectable villains arn't any
better nor others."

"True; but, you know, their friends, who are educated, are more
sensitive in such matters than others."

"That mought be tr