"_L'abeille_, Monsieur?"
The _garcon_ who helped me to the fragrant cup, at the same time handed
me a newspaper fresh from the press.
It was a large sheet, headed upon one side "L'Abeille", on the reverse
its synonyme in English, "The Bee." Half of its contents were in
French, half in English: each half was a counterpart--a translation of
the other.
I mechanically took the journal from the hand of the waiter, but without
either the design or inclination to read it. Mechanically my eyes
wandered over its broad-sheet--scarce heeding the contents.
All at once, the heading of an advertisement fixed my gaze and my
attention. It was on the "French side" of the paper.
"Annoncement."
"_Vente importante des Negres_!" Yes--it was they. The announcement
was no surprise to me. I expected as much.
I turned to the translation on the reverse page, in order to comprehend
it more clearly. There it was in all its broad black meaning:--
"_Important Sale of Negroes_!" I read on:--"_Estate in Bankruptcy.
Plantation Besancon_!"
"Poor Eugenie!"