'All of which I saw, and part of which I was.'
Joe led Slema away, and, springing from the block, I pressed through the crowd to where Larkin was standing.
'Larkin,' I said, placing my hand on his arm, 'come with me.'
'Who in h---- ar ye?' he asked, turning on me rather roughly.
'My name is Kirke. You ought to know me.'
'Kirke! Why ye ar! I'm right down glad ter see ye, Mr. Kirke,' he exclaimed, seizing me warmly by the hand.
He sprang from the bench, and followed me into the mansion.
Entering the library, I locked the door. When he was seated, I said:
'Now, Larkin, who do you want this girl for?'
'Wall, I swar! Mr. Kirke, ye fire right at th' bull's eye!' Then, hesitating a moment, he added:
'No, you don't; you know that isn't true.'
'Ha!--ha! This ar th' second time ye've told me I lied. Nary other man ever done it twice, Mr. Kirke; but I karn't take no 'fence with ye, nohow--ha! ha!'
'Come, Larkin, don't waste time. Tell me squarely--_who_ do you want this girl for?'
'Wall, Mr. Kirke, I can't answer thet--not in honor.'
'Wall, I'm d----d ef ye doan't take th' papers. Who in creashun told ye thet?'
'No one; I _know_ it, Hallet's only son is engaged to this girl. He wants her, to balk him.'
'Ye're wrong thar. He wants har fur _himself_.'
'Yas; he's got a couple now. He's a sly old fox; but he's one on 'em.'
'Is he willing to pay eighty-two hundred dollars for a mistress?'
'Wall, Preston owes him a debt, an' he reckons 'tain't wuth a hill o' beans. Thet's th' amount uv it.'
Thus the wrong of the father was to be atoned for by the dishonor of the child! Preston was right: the curse which followed his sin had fallen on all he loved--on his wife, his mistress, the octoroon girl, his manly, noble son; and now, the cloud which held the thunderbolt was hovering over the head of his best-loved child! And so He visiteth 'the sins of the fathers upon the children!'
'But he is wrong! Preston's estate will pay its debts. If it does not, Joe will make good the deficiency, I will guarantee Hallet's claim. See him, and tell him so.'
'He hain't yere, an' woan't be yere. He allers fights shy. An' 'twouldn't be uv no use. He's made up his mind to hev th' gal, an' hev har he will. He's come all th' way from Orleans ter make sure uv it.'