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 "No," answered Virginia gently; "you have lost your courage. I heard that you had failed, and was sorry; but I did not think that it could be … as bad as this."

Dessalines groaned; his sobbings became more audible.

"You shall come with me to the house, Count Dessalines," said Virginia firmly. "You shall be our guest—you are still our friend."

"No!" The negro raised his great hand. "I am not fit to go under your roof. I am a negro, a creature of inferior race; the same God does not love us both; our souls have their separate heavens—and hells!"

"You have suffered, Count Dessalines," said Virginia in the tone one would use to a grieving child. "I heard that you were betrayed by one who you thought was your friend. How he"

"I betrayed him."

"That I do not believe, but it makes no difference; you are in trouble and you once saved Giles's life and mine. You must let us help you now."

Dessalines wept silently, hopelessly, like a child by the corpse of its mother. "Poor Dessalines," he whimpered, "poor, poor Dessalines!" He dropped upon his haunches, hid his face in his great hands, rocked to and fro in an agony of weeping; while Virginia, overcome with pity, felt the tears coursing down her cheeks. "Poor Dessalines," said he, "poor Dessalines."

Virginia grew firm. "When did you last eat?" she asked.

Dessalines looked up vacantly. "Eat? Oh, oh, … not for … days. It is a long time since I have 275