"Eh?—what? Ah, yes!—upon the whole, I think you had better not be too severe with the poor fellow—don't flog him, Jupiter, he can't very well stand it—but can you form an idea of what has occasioned this illness, or rather this change of conduct? Has anything unpleasant happened since I saw you?" "No, massa, dey ain't bin noffin' onpleasant _since_ den—'twas _'fore_ den, I'm feared—'twas de berry day you was dare."' "How? what do you mean?" "Why, massa, I mean de bug—dare now." "The _what?_" "De bug—I'm berry sartain dat Massa Will bin bit somewhere 'bout de head by dat goole-bug." "And what cause have you, Jupiter, for such a supposition?" "Claws enuff, massa, and mouff, too. I nebber did see sich a d——d bug—he kick and he bite ebery ting what cum near him. Massa Will cotch him fuss, but had for to let him go 'gin mighty quick, I tell you—den was de time he must ha' got de bite. I didn't like de look ob de bug mouff, myself, nohow, so I wouldn't take hold ob him wid my finger, but I cotch him wid a piece ob paper dat I found. I wrap him up in de paper and stuff piece ob it in he mouff—dat was de way." "And you think, then, that your master was really bitten by the beetle, and that the bite made him sick?" "I don't t'ink noffin' 'bout it—I nose it. What make him dream 'bout de goole so much, if 'tain't cause he bit by de goole-bug? Ise heerd 'bout dem goole-bugs 'fore dis." "But how do you know he dreams about gold?" "How I know? why, 'cause he talk about it in he sleep—dat's how I nose." "Well, Jup, perhaps you are right; but to what fortunate circumstances am I to attribute the honor of a visit from you to-day?" "What de matter, massa?" "Did you bring any message from Mr. Legrand?" "No, massa, I bring dis here 'pissel;" and here Jupiter handed me a note, which ran thus: My dear ———: Why have I not seen you for so long a time? I hope you have not been so foolish as to take offence at any little _brusquerie_[11] of mine; but no, that is improbable. Since I saw you I have had great cause for anxiety. I have something to tell you, yet scarcely know how to tell it, or whether I should tell it at all. I have not been quite well for some days past, and poor old Jup annoys me, almost beyond endurance, by his well-meant attentions. Would you believe it?—he had prepared a huge stick, the other day, with which to chastise me for giving him the slip, and spending the day, _solus_, among the hills on the mainland. I verily believe that my ill looks alone saved me a flogging. I have made no addition to my cabinet since we met. If you can, in any way, make it convenient, come over with Jupiter. _Do_ come. I wish to see you _to-night_, upon business of importance. I assure you that it is of the _highest_ importance. Ever yours, William Legrand.