g to some sort of inspiration, he began, with looks and tones of
the deepest solemnity, "I s'pose you guess, Massa Osman, dat I've been
inwestigatin' that coorious business ob de English gal what runned
away?"

"No, I did not guess that," answered the Moor shortly.

"Oh! but it's true!" said Peter. "Eber since she flooed away I's bin
goin' about dem suspekid places, lookin' arter her, and, do you know,
Massa Osman, dat at last," (here he dropped his voice and looked
unutterable things),--"at _last_ I's found--"

"Well--found what?" asked the Moor eagerly.

"Found her _fadder_!"

"Bah! What do I care for her father, you fool?"

"Das troo, massa; but don't you t'ink dat p'r'aps she'd be likely to try
for find her fadder; an' if she find 'im she'd be likely to remain _wid_
her fadder? An' so all dat we'd hab to do would be to find her fadder
too. Ob course I don't say she's doo'd all dat; but suppose, for de
sake ob argiment, dat she _hab_ doo'd it all, won't we--won't we--we--
No, I's lost de t'read ob my discoorse. I'll begin again fro' de
beginning. Das de on'y way I kin--"

"Is that all you had to tell me?" interrupted the Moor, in rising wrath.

"No--not kite all," returned Peter humbly. "Dey do say dat de fadder is
at work on de for'fications on de sout' side ob de Kasba."

"Well, you are a greater fool than I took you for," said Osman, in whom
contempt was quickly taking the place of anger.

"I s'pose I is, massa. An' I s'pose it am part ob my foolishness to be
lookin' arter dis yar gal--but den, you see, I lubs Ben-Ahmed, so--"

"Well, well, Peter, I believe you mean well--"

"I's _sure_ I does, Massa Osman!"

"Don't interrupt me, you black villain! Can't you see that if Hester's
father is a Bagnio slave there is no chance of her having found refuge
with him?"

"Das true, massa. I do s'pose you's right. I's a born ijit altogidder.
But, you know, when a man gits off de scent ob a t'ing, anyt'ing dat
looks de least bit like a clue should be follered up. An' dere's no
sayin' what might come ob seein' de fadder--for we's off de scent
entirely jist now."

"There's little doubt of that, Peter," said Osman, pausing, and looking
meditatively at the ground.

"Moreober," suggested the negro, "when a man wid a cleber head an' a
purswavis tongue like you tackles a t'ing, it's bery strange indeed if
not'ing comes ob it."

"Well, you may be right after all," returned the Moor slowly. "I will
go