When the last bumper was quaffed in honor of "La Perouse" and "belle France," Captain Brulot called for his writing-desk; when, at the instant, four men sprung up as if by enchantment behind the Mongo and myself, and grasping our arms with the gripe of a vice, held us in their clutches till the carpenter riveted a shackle on our feet. The scene passed so rapidly,--the transition from gayety to outrage was so sharp and violent, that my bewildered mind cannot now declare with certainty, whether mirth or anger prevailed at the clap-trap trick of this dramatic _denouement_. I am quite sure, however, that if I laughed at first, I very soon swore; for I have a distinct recollection of dashing my fist in the poltroon's face before he could extemporize an explanation. When our limbs were perfectly secure, the French scoundrel recommenced his shrugs, bows, grins and congees; and approaching Mr. Ormond with a sarcastic simper, apprised him that the _petite comedie_ in which he took part, had been enacted for the collection of a trifling debt which his excellency the Mongo owed a beloved brother, who, alas! was no longer on earth to collect it for himself! _Monsieur le Mongo_, he said, would have the kindness to remember that, several years ago, his brother had left some _two hundred slaves_ in his hands until called for; and he would also please to take the trouble to recollect, that the said slaves had been twice sent for, and twice refused. _Monsieur le Mongo_ must know, he continued, that there was not much law on the coast of Africa; and that, as he had Monsieur le Mongo's promissory note, or due-bill, for the negroes, he thought this charming little _ruse_ would be the most amiable and practical mode of enforcing it! Did his friend, _le Mongo_, intend to honor this draft? It was properly endorsed, he would see, in favor of the bearer; and if the _esclaves_ were quickly forthcoming, the whole affair would pass off as agreeably and quickly as the bubbles from a champagne glass. By this time Ormond was so perfectly stupefied by drink, as well as the atrocity, that he simply burst into a maudlin laugh, when I looked at him for an explanation of the charge. _I_, surely, was not implicated in it; yet, when I demanded the cause of the assault upon _my_ person, in connection with the affair, Brulot replied, with a shrug, that as I was Ormond's clerk when the note was signed, I _must_ have had a finger in the pie; and, inasmuch as I now possessed a factory of my own, it would doubtless be delightful to aid my ancient patron in the liquidation of a debt that I knew to be lawful.