be left to you and the master."

"Captain Biddle, I suppose."

"Yes. A resolute old sea-dog, but who will obey because I order it. Good
night. At nine--I must know at nine."

De Courval lost no time. His mother was alone, as usual avoiding the
Saturday visitors.

"Oh," he said to himself as he stood outside of her door, "you must let
me go."

He paused before he knocked. Gratitude, interest, awakened eagerness for
perilous adventure, called him to this voyage. He had then, as on later
occasions one source of indecision--the mother. If she said no, he must
stay; but would she? He knocked gently, and in a moment was standing at
her side.

She set aside her embroidery-frame. "What is wrong?" she said. "I do not
want to hear any more evil news--or at least, no details. Who else is
dead of those we cared for?"

"No one, mother. Mr. Wynne wishes me to sail for him at dawn to-morrow
for San Domingo. I may be in time to save him much money."

"Well," she said coldly, "what else?" Her face, always grave, became
stern. "And so, to save a trader's money, I am to be left alone."

"Mother, it seems hard for you to understand these people; and there is
another side to it. I have been treated with kindness for which there
seems to me small reason. Twice my wages have been raised, and this
offer is a compliment, as well as a chance to oblige a man I like."

"Wages!" she cried. "Do not imagine me deceived by these good-natured
bourgeois, nor by your desire to spare me. Secretary, indeed! Do they
fancy me a fool? You are a clerk."

"I am," he said; "but that is not now of importance. He has said that he
must go or I must go."

"Then let him go. You must not disobey me, Rene."

"Mother," he said, "these people have, God knows why, found us a home,
and covered us with obligations never possible to be repaid. Here at
last comes a chance--and you know our old French saying."

"Yes, yes, I know. But any clerk could go. It is--oh, my son!--that I
should miss you day and night."

"Any clerk could not go, _maman_. It asks this thing--a man not afraid.
No timid clerk can go. Do not you see, _maman?_"

"He will think you afraid if you stay?"

"Oh, mother, do understand this man better! He is a gentleman--of--of as
good a race as ours, a soldier of distinction in the war. He will not
think me afraid; but others may."

"Is there danger, my son?"

"Yes. To be honest, very great danger. The blacks are free. The lower
whites r