“Well, I called on Charlton last Thursday. As I passed the little sitting-room of the basement, I saw a young and lovely girl putting her mouth filled with seed up to the bars of a cage, and a canary-bird picking the food from her lips. A cat, who seemed to be on excellent terms with the bird, was perched on the girl’s shoulder, and superintending the operation. So, thought I, she exercises her affections in the society of these dumb pets rather than in that of her father. “I found Charlton sitting lonely in a sort of library scantily furnished with books. A well-formed man, but with a face haggard and anxious as if his life-blood were ebbing irrecoverably with every penny that went from his pockets. On my mentioning your name, his eyes brightened; for he inferred I had come with your semiannual remittances. He was at once anxious to know if rents in New Orleans had been materially affected by the war. I told him his five houses near Lafayette Square, excepting that occupied on a long lease by Mr. Carberry Ratcliff, would not bring in half the amount they did last year. He groaned audibly. I then told him that your semiannual collections for him amounted to six thousand dollars, but that you were under the painful necessity of assuring him that the money would have to be paid all over to the Confederate government. “Charlton, completely struck aghast, fell back in his chair, his face pale, and his lips quivering. I thought he had fainted. “‘Your brother wouldn’t rob me, Mr. Semmes?’ he gasped forth. “‘Certainly not,’ I replied; ‘but his obedience is due to the authorities that are uppermost. The Confederate flag waves over New Orleans, and will probably continue to wave. All your real estate has been or will be confiscated.’ “‘But it is worth two hundred thousand dollars!’ he exclaimed, in a tone that was almost a shriek. “‘So much the better for the Confederate treasury!’ I replied. “I then broached what you told me to in regard to his making a _bona fide_ sale of the property to you. I offered him twenty thousand dollars in cash, if he would surrender all claim. “‘Never! never!’ he exclaimed. ‘I’ll run my risk of the city’s coming back into our possession. I see through your brother’s trick.’ “‘Please recall that word, sir,’ I said, touching my wristbands. “‘Well, your brother’s _plan_, sir. Will that suit you?’ “‘That will do,’ I replied. ‘My brother will pay your ten thousand dollars over to the Confederacy. But I am authorized to pay you a tenth part of that sum for your receipt in full of all moneys due to you for rents up to this time.’ “‘Ha! you Secessionists are not quite so positive, after all, as to your fortune!’ he exclaimed. ‘You’re a little weak-kneed as to your ability to hold the place,—eh?’