There was a knock at the door. Vance shut the box, replaced it in his pocket, and cried, “Come in!” “Colored man down stars, sar, wants to see yer.” “Did he give his name?” “Yes, sar, he say his name is Jacobs.” “Show him up.” A negro now entered wearing green spectacles, and a wig of gray wool. Across his cheek there was a scar. No sooner was the door closed upon the waiter, than Vance exclaimed: “Is it possible? Can this be you, Peek?” Peek threw off his disguises, and Vance seized him by the hand as he might have seized a returning brother. “What of your wife and child? Have you found ’em?” “No, Mr. Vance, I’m still a wanderer over the earth in search of them. I shall find them in God’s good time.” “Sit down, Peek.” “Excuse me, Mr. Vance, I’d rather stand.” “Very well. Then I’ll stand too.” “Since you make it a point of politeness, sir, I’ll sit.” “That’s right. And now, my dear fellow, tell me what you’ve been about these many years. Surely you’ve discovered some traces of the lost ones?” “None that have been of much use, Mr. Vance. I’m satisfied that Flora was lured on to Baltimore by some party who deceived her with the expectation of meeting me there. From Baltimore she and her child were taken to Richmond by the agent of her old master, and sold at auction to a dealer, who soon afterwards died. There the clew breaks.” “My poor Peek, your not finding her has probably saved you from a deeper disappointment.” “What do you mean, Mr. Vance?” “The chance is, she has been forced to marry some other man.” “I know, sir, that would be the probability in the case of ninety-nine slave-women out of a hundred. But Flora once swore to me on the crucifix, she would be true to me or die. And I feel very certain she will keep her oath.” “Ah! slavery is so crafty and remorseless in working on human passions,” sighed Vance. “But you are right, my dear Peek, in hoping on. Tell me of your adventures.” “When you and I parted at Memphis, Mr. Vance, I went to Montreal. Flora had left there some weeks before. At New York I sought out Mr. Charlton; also the policemen. But I could get nothing out of them. At length a Canadian told me he had met Flora on board the Baltimore boat. I followed up the clew till it broke, as I’ve told you. Since then I’ve been seeking my wife and boy through all the Cotton States. The money you gave me from Mr. Berwick lasted me seven years; and then I had to work to get the means of continuing my search. There are not many counties in the Slave States which I have not visited.” “During your travels, Peek, you must have had opportunities of helping on the good cause.”