by side before the new work. Claude gazed in silence.
At length he said, still gazing:

"I'll buy it when 'tis finish'."

But the artist explained again that it was being painted for
Marguerite's friend.

"For what she want it?" demanded Claude. The Spaniard smiled and
intimated that the lady probably thought he could paint. "But at any
rate," he went on to say, "she seemed to have a hearty affection for
the girl herself, whom," he said, "she had described as being as good
as she looked." Claude turned and went slowly out.

When at sunset he stood under the honey-locust tree on the levee where
he was wont to find his father waiting for him, he found himself
alone. But within speaking distance he saw St. Pierre's skiff just
being drawn ashore by a ragged negro, who presently turned and came
to him, half-lifting the wretched hat that slouched about his dark
brows, and smiling.

"Sim like you done fo'got me," he said. "Don't you 'member how I use'
live at Belle Alliance? Yes, seh. I's de one what show Bonaventure de
road to Gran' Point'. Yes, seh. But I done lef' dah since Mistoo
Wallis sole de place. Yes, seh. An' when I meet up wid you papa you
nevva see a nigger so glad like I was. No, seh. An' likewise you papa.
Yes, seh. An' he ass me is I want to wuck fo' him, an' I see he
needin' he'p, an' so I tu'n in an' he'p him. Oh, yes, seh! dass mo' 'n
a week, now, since I been wuckin' fo' you papa."

They got into the skiff and pushed off, the negro alone at the oars.

"Pow'ful strong current on udder side," he said, pulling quietly
up-stream to offset the loss of way he must make presently in crossing
the rapid flood. "Mistoo Claude, I see a gen'leman dis day noon what I
ain't see' befo' since 'bout six year' an' mo'. I disremember his
name, but----"

"Tarbox?" asked Claude with sudden interest.

"Yes, seh. Dass it! Tah-bawx. Sim like any man ought to 'member dat
name. Him an' you papa done gone down de canal. Yes, seh; in a
pirogue. He come in a big hurry an' say how dey got a big crevasse up
de river on dat side, an' he want make you papa see one man what
livin' on Lac Cataouache. Yes, seh. An you papa say you fine you
supper in de pot. An' Mistoo Tah-bawx he say he want you teck one
hoss an' ride up till de crevasse an' you fine one frien' of yose
yondah, one ingineer; an' he say--Mistoo Tah-bawx--how he 'low to meet
up wid you at you papa' house to-morrow daylight. Yes, seh; Mistoo
Tah-bawx; yes, seh."