"By Heaven! it is the voice of a man! Who can he be? Scipio? No;
Scipio cannot yet have left the stable. It cannot be he. Some other of
the plantation people? Jules, the wood-chopper? the errand-boy,
Baptiste? Ha! it is not a negro's voice. No, it is the voice of a
white man! the overseer?"
As this idea came into my head, a pang at the same time shot through my
heart--a pang, not of jealousy, but something like it. I was angry at
_him_ rather than jealous with _her_. As yet I had heard nothing to
make me jealous. His being present with her, and in conversation, was
no cause.
"So, my bold nigger-driver," thought I, "you have got over your
predilection for the little Chloe. Not to be wondered at! Who would
waste time gazing at stars when there is such a moon in the sky? Brute
that you are, you are not blind. I see you, too, have an eye to
opportunities, and know when to enter the drawing-room."
"Hush!"
Again I listened. When I had first halted, it was through motives of
delicacy. I did not wish to appear too suddenly before the open window,
which would have given me a full view of the interior of the apartment.
I had paused, intending to herald my approach by some noise--a feigned
cough, or a stroke of my foot against the floor. My motives had
undergone a change. I now listened with a design. I could not help it.
Aurore was speaking.
I bent my ear close to the window. The voice was at too great a
distance, or uttered too low, for me to hear what was said. I could
hear the silvery tones, but could not distinguish the words. She must
be at the further end of the room, thought I. _Perhaps, upon the sofa_.
This conjecture led me to painful imaginings, till the throbbings of my
heart drowned the murmur that was causing them.
At length Aurore's speech was ended. I waited for the reply. Perhaps I
might gather from that what _she_ had said. The tones of the male voice
would be loud enough to enable me--
Hush! hark!
I listened--I caught the sound of a voice, but not the words. The sound
was enough. It caused me to start as if stung by an adder. _It was the
voice of Monsieur Dominique Gayarre_!