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 "They are to be married in January, are they not? Then why not take Miss Moultrie away for a few months and persuade Giles to give up the hunting and join you there. It will not take much argument on your part, I fancy."

Manning's face brightened. "That is a good thought. Giles had agreed to go home with me when I first came over, and then backed out … I fancy he did not care for the separation. ..." His features clouded again. "Can you tell me why it is, Dr. Leyden, that a woman of my sister's position and engaged to be married to a fine fellow like Giles Maltby should be interested in a brute like this Dessalines? I am a good deal biased I'll admit, and you are thoroughly cosmopolitan. Do you think that this Haytian is so different from any other negro?"

"No," replied Leyden quietly. "I do not believe that this Haytian possesses the brain of a very ignorant white person, although he has no doubt developed such brain as he has almost to its physiological limits, which places him, of course, for all practical purposes, the mental superior of the ignorant white."

Manning looked annoyed. "I would much prefer to think that it was the oddity, the striking element of mentality in the man by which my sister was attracted. Why, confound it, doctor, it is evident enough that she is attracted, and if not by his mentality it must be … b-r-r-rgh!" Manning rose hastily and lit a cigar, then turned suddenly to Leyden, his fine aristocratic face white and fierce.

"My soul, doctor! if any man had ever hinted, implied by the shadow of insinuation, such a thing of my 124