"Four thousand five hundred," screamed the cotton-broker. There was no use in contending with him. He was evidently willing to stake all his fortune upon victory. "Going! Going! Going!" repeated the auctioneer, slowly. There was a brief pause, during which every pulsation in Loo Loo's body seemed to stop. Then she heard the horrible words, "Gone, for four thousand five hundred dollars! Gone to Mr. Grossman!" They led her to a bench at the other end of the room. She sat there, still as a marble statue, and almost as pale. The sudden cessation of excited hope had so stunned her, that she could not think. Everything seemed dark and reeling round her. In a few minutes, Mr. Grossman was at her side. "Come, my beauty," said he. "The carriage is at the door. If you behave yourself, you shall be treated like a queen. Come, my love!" He attempted to take her hand, but his touch roused her from her lethargy; and springing at him, like a wild-cat, she gave him a blow in the face that made him stagger,--so powerful was it, in the vehemence of her disgust and anger. His coaxing tones changed instantly. "We don't allow niggers to put on such airs," he said. "I'm your master. You've got to live with me; and you may as well make up your mind to it first as last." He glowered at her savagely for a moment; and drawing from his pocket an embroidered slipper, he added,-- "Ever since I picked up this pretty thing, I've been determined to have you. I expected to be obliged to wait till Noble got tired of you, and wanted to take up with another wench; but I've had better luck than I expected." At the sight of that gift of Alfred's in his hated hand, at the sound of those coarse words, so different from _his_ respectful tenderness, her pride broke down, and tears welled forth. Looking up in his stern face, she said, in tones of the deepest pathos,-- "Oh, Sir, have pity on a poor, unfortunate girl! Don't persecute me!" "Persecute you?" he replied. "No, indeed, my charmer! If you'll be kind to me, I'll treat you like a princess." He tried to look loving, but the expression was utterly revolting. Twelve years of unbridled sensuality had rendered his countenance even more disgusting than it was when he shocked Alfred's youthful soul by his talk about "Duncan's handsome wench." "Come, my beauty," he continued, persuasively, "I'm glad to see you in a better temper. Come with me, and behave yourself." She curled her lip scornfully, and repeated,-- "I will never live with you! Never!" "We'll see about that, my wench," said he. "I may as well take you down a peg, first as last. If you'd rather be in the calaboose with niggers than to ride in a carriage with me, you may try it, and see how you like it. I reckon you'll be glad to come to my terms, before long." He beckoned to two police-officers, and said, "Take this wench into custody, and keep her on bread and water, till I give further orders."