I stepped forward. Master noticed me and motioned me back to my place. The doctor did not even wince. He sat gazing into the fire. "I came to make you a proposition," said he. "All right. Let it be a short one." "It will not take long to state it." "Longer to get to it, I presume?" "It's this," said the doctor. "You are going into the law and I have no doubt that you will make your mark. I don't believe that you are ambitious to acquire wealth, but I feel that you would like to hold intact your father's estate. A part of the estate, you must know, will fall to me. I don't suppose there will be money enough to satisfy my claim, without a division of the land, so to avoid this, I will agree to take a small amount in ready money as part payment, and Dan as the remainder." A cold shiver ran over me, not that I was afraid of the issue, but because that man's determination to possess me was freezing my blood. Master did not change his position, neither did he look up. He made this simple answer: "When the time comes, you may take what belongs to you, even to the estate itself. I will keep Dan." "But I have consulted with your mother and I act upon her advice." "You may take the estate when the time comes, but I will keep Dan." The doctor got up. "Bob Gradley," said he, "when you were a child, you toddled into my way, and now that you are nearly a man, you persistently obstruct my path." Master sprawled flat upon the table and laughed. "Well, if this isn't gall!" he cried. "I was born on my father's plantation to stand in your way." He got off the table and laughed as he walked up and down the room. "Toddled into your way? And didn't my mother apologize, and didn't my father try to make excuses for me, doctor?" he said, facing about. "Doctor, the first light of reason that fell upon my mind brought the knowledge that I hated you. Once I cut my finger and looking at the blood, wondered if your blood were not black instead of red. And I'd like to satisfy myself upon that point now. Here, (tossing a pen-knife upon the table) prick yourself and let me see if the ooze is not black. I'll bet it is, and what a proclamation the devil could write with such ink, and with a pen made of a lizzard's claw!" This idea brought back his mirth, and laughing he walked up and down the room, the doctor's eyes following him with a sullen gaze. After a time master came back to the table and sat down. "I am much obliged to you for this entertainment," he said. "Make the most of it," the doctor replied. "Oh, I will; I have been known to make much out of poor material." "And you have been known to make too much out of a negro that ought to be in the corn field." "Yes, more out of him than could have been made out of some white men." "Look here, sir; do you mean to draw a comparison between me and that negro?" "Oh, no; not at all, and I beg your pardon for inadvertantly producing that impression. I wouldn't go so far as that."