"Then suppose you write a memorandum of your gift, and sign it in the presence of Mr. Craig and my aunt." "Willingly," replied Augustus, and seating himself at the table scrawled a few lines, transferring the Octoroon to his sister, and after signing the document, pushed it across to Silas Craig. "Witness that, Craig," he said, "since my sister is so much afraid of my breaking my word." Adelaide took up the paper, glanced at its contents, and placed it in the pocket of her dress. "I cannot tell you, my dear Augustus, how grateful I am to you for this gift," she said, exchanging a look of peculiar significance with her aunt, Mrs. Montresor. Five minutes afterward, Myra, the Quadroon slave, announced Mr. Leslie and Mr. Percy. Augustus Horton started at the sound of those names. Mortimer Percy had been absent from New Orleans since the night of the duel between his cousin and Gilbert Margrave. A faint flush suffused the cheek of Adelaide Horton; she felt that she was about to meet the man who had once loved, but now despised her. Augustus was utterly ignorant that Gerald Leslie had assisted in carrying off the Octoroon; he had recognized no one but Gilbert Margrave, upon the night of the abduction. The planter received his visitors with cold politeness, but the rat-like eyes of the attorney glanced with a look of hatred at Gerald Leslie. Mr. Leslie was not alone; Toby, the mulatto, followed him into the garden. Silas Craig started from his seat with an angry oath. "What brings you here," he cried, "Toby?" "Do not blame him, Mr. Craig," answered Gerald Leslie, quietly, "it is I who brought Toby here." "Oh, it was you, was it? and by what right do you order my slaves about, pray, Mr. Leslie?" "You will learn that in due time; I have reason to think that Toby's presence will be needed." The attorney quailed beneath the steady gaze of Gerald Leslie. He felt that some hidden danger was threatened by this visit. "Pray, Mr. Leslie," said Augustus Horton, "may I venture to ask the motive which has brought you and my cousin to a house in which you can hardly expect to be welcome?" "You will very soon know that, Mr. Horton," answered Gerald. "Our visit to-day is to Mr. Craig, rather than to yourself; and our motive in coming to this house is that you may learn the true character of the man whom you have chosen as your associate." "I require no such teaching, Mr. Leslie," said Augustus, haughtily. "Silas Craig, why do you sit there like a stock? Why don't you speak, man; and ask Gerald Leslie what he means by this?" "Shall I answer that question, Mr. Horton," replied Leslie. "Silas Craig does not speak because he dares not; because he knows his own guilt, and knows that the seizure and sale of my property, which took place yesterday, was an illegal one." "Illegal?"