, as
he applied a little gentle force to the arm he held.

"Unhand me, sir!" screamed Emily, as loud as her agitated condition
would permit.

But De Guy heeded her not; and, without condescending to utter another
word, he took her up like a child, and bore her up the stairs to
Maxwell's office. Turning the key to prevent interruption, he opened the
lawyer's private apartment in the rear, and placed the fainting girl
upon the bed, and retired.

Unlocking the office door, he was confronted by an old negress, who had
charge of the sweeping and cleaning department of the building.

"Sar! what's all dis about?" screamed she, in no gentle tone; for the
colored lady had witnessed De Guy's achievement from the stair-case
above.

"Hush, Dido--"

"Sar! who are you dat come inter Massa Maxwell's room widout no leave?"

"Never mind who I am, Dido. There is a lady in the bedroom, by whom Mr.
Maxwell sets his life--do you hear?--sets his life. She has fainted, and
you must take care of her,"--and De Guy slipped a half-eagle into the
negress' hands.

"Dat alters de case," said the black lady, eying the money with much
satisfaction. "Massa Maxwell's a sly dog. I take good care ob de
lady--not de fus time, nuder."

"Don't let her get away; take good care of her, and you shall have half
a dozen just such pieces."

"Never fear, Massa, I's use to de business."

De Guy left the building, satisfied, it would seem, of the negress'
fidelity.

CHAPTER XXIV.

"_Lieut_. Forgive me, sir, what I'm compelled t' obey: An order for
your close confinement.

"_King H_. Whence comes it, good lieutenant?

"_Lieut_. Sir, from the Duke of Gloster.

"_King H_. Good-night to all, then!"

SHAKSPEARE.

Connected with the estate at Bellevue, of which Jaspar Dumont was now in
actual possession, was a small slave jail. It had been constructed under
the immediate direction of Jaspar, to afford a place of confinement for
the runaway or refractory negroes of the plantation. It was located at
some distance from the proprietary mansion, and from the quarters of the
negroes. Jaspar's taste in matters of this kind was of the most refined
character, and he had caused it to be constructed on a plan and in a
manner that would seem to bid defiance to the skill of a Baron Trenck,
or a Stephen Burroughs. The material was granite, brought at no trifling
expense from the North. There were no windows upon the sides, a