"Respectable! Yes; the man who makes money is respectable, no matter by what shameful means he makes it. Usurer, oppressor of the helpless, trafficker in human flesh--what matters by what hideous trade the gold is got? The yellow guineas will not sparkle less--the hollow world will not be less ready to bow to the respectable member of society." "Fool!" cried Augustus, angrily; "Craig is here. Do you wish him to know your opinion of him?" Mortimer shrugged his shoulders and resumed his conversation with his cousin Adelaide. Silas Craig saluted the ladies with ceremonious politeness, and, after the first greetings, exclaimed with a face expressive of sanctimonious grief and pious horror-- "Of course, ladies, you have heard the news?" "The news! What news?" cried Adelaide and her aunt simultaneously. "What! Is it possible that you have not heard of Mr. Gerald Leslie's conduct? All New Orleans is ringing with the scandal." "What scandal?" "Ah, ladies, you may indeed well ask what scandal; for who could believe that Mr. Leslie, one of the principal planters of Louisiana, should have been guilty of such a treason against the interest of society at large?" "Treason! Mr. Leslie! What do you mean, Mr. Craig?" exclaimed Augustus Horton. "I mean that Gerald Leslie has been discovered within these last few days, to have educated in England the child of one of his slaves, a quadroon called Francilia; whom he sold to me some fourteen years ago. The girl has been brought up in England, where she has received the education of a princess, and it is only through her unexpected return to New Orleans that the secret has been discovered." "Merciful Heaven!" cried Adelaide, hiding her face in her hands; "Cora a slave!" "There was one spark of feeling, at least," muttered Mortimer, as he watched his cousin's emotion. "Now," pursued the pitiless usurer, "according to the Louisiana law, it is criminal to teach a slave to read. What, then, must be the offense of Mr. Leslie, in sending this girl to a first-class English boarding school, and having her taught the accomplishments of a lady of the highest birth?" "A terrible offense, indeed, Mr. Craig," said Mortimer, bitterly; "but this girl is Gerald Leslie's own daughter, is she not?" "She is; but what of that? Born of a slave mother, she is not the less his slave."