single individual, touched at
the bank of the river near the now gloomy mansion. Leaping from the
canoe, which was nearly swamped by the act, the person it had contained
drew the frail bark beyond the reach of the rapid current, and ascended
the steep bank. Following the smooth shell road through the long vista
of negro huts, he reached the little grove of tropical trees which
surrounded the proprietary mansion. Casting an anxious glance around
him, to satisfy himself that he was not watched, he cautiously
approached the only illuminated window on that side of the house, upon
which, after a close scrutiny of the interior of the room, he gave
several light taps. This signal was answered by Jaspar Dumont, who, with
a word of caution, opened the window. The stranger, with a light spring
which belied his apparent years, gained the interior of the room, which
was the library of the late owner.

The person who had thus obtained admission was the lawyer, Antoine De
Guy, whom Maxwell had suggested as a fit agent for the execution of
Jaspar's scheme. He was certainly an odd-looking man. His face was of a
very dark red color, much like that which is produced by the united
effects of exposure and intemperance, and was encircled by a pair of
black whiskers, intermixed with gray. His cranium was ornamented with a
huge mass of the same parti-colored hair. His fiery red nose was placed
in strange contrast with a pair of green spectacles, which entirely
concealed the color and expression of his eyes. His clothes were of a
most primitive cut, and had probably been black once, but were now rusty
and white from long service. His form was portly, a little inclined to
corpulency. His hands were most unprofessionally dirty; but this might
have been occasioned by contact with the canoe in his passage. On one of
his fingers glittered a diamond ring, which, considering the lack of
ornaments in other respects, but ill accorded with the apparent
parsimony of the man. It might, however, have been obtained in the way
of trade, for Maxwell had hinted that he did business under the sign of
the "three golden balls." He was apparently in the neighborhood of
five-and-forty, and looked like the debauchee in the face, while his
dress indicated the penurious man of business.

"Did any one see you?" asked Jaspar, whose teeth were chattering with
apprehension, notwithstanding his natural boldness.

"Not that I am aware of," replied De Guy, in a silky tone