‘No, massa, dey aint bin noffin onpleasant since den—’twas fore den I’m feared—’twas de berry day you was dare.’

‘How? what do you mean?’

‘Why, massa, I mean de bug—dare now.’

‘The what?’

‘De bug—I’m berry sartain dat Massa Will bin bit somewhere bout de head by dat goole-bug.’

‘And what cause have you, Jupiter, for such a supposition?’

‘Claws enuff, massa, and mouff too. I nebber did see sich a deuced bug—he kick and he bite ebery ting what cum near him. Massa Will cotch him fuss, but had for to let him go gin mighty quick, I tell you—den was de time he must ha got de bite. I didn’t like de look ob de bug mouff, myself, no how, so I wouldn’t take hold ob him wid my finger, but I cotch him wid a piece ob paper dat I found. I wrap him up in de paper and stuff piece ob it in he mouff—dat was de way.’

‘And you think, then, that your master was really bitten by the beetle, and that the bite made him sick?’

‘I don’t tink noffin about it—I nose it. What make him dream bout de goole so much, if taint cause he bit by de goole-bug? Ise heerd bout dem goole-bugs fore dis.’

‘But how do you know he dreams about gold?’

‘How I know? why, cause he talk about it in he sleep—dat’s how I nose.’

‘Well, Jup, perhaps you are right; but to what fortunate circumstance am I to attribute the honour of a visit from you to-day?’

‘What de matter, massa?’

‘Did you bring any message from Mr. Legrand?’

‘No, massa, I bring dis here pissel;’ and here Jupiter handed me a note which ran thus:—

‘My Dear—, Why have I not seen you for so long a time? I hope you have not been so foolish as to take offence at any little brusquerie of mine; but no, that is improbable.

‘Since I saw you I have had great cause for anxiety. I have something to tell you, yet scarcely know how to tell it, or whether I should tell it at all.

‘I have not been quite well for some days past, and poor old Jup annoys me, almost beyond endurance, by his well-meant attentions. Would you believe it?—he had prepared a huge stick, the other day, with which to chastise me for giving him the slip, and spending the day, solus, among the hills on the mainland. I verily believe that my ill looks alone saved me a flogging.

‘I have made no addition to my cabinet since we met.

‘If you can, in any way, make it convenient, come over with Jupiter. Do come. I wish to see you to- night, upon business of importance. I assure you that it is of the highest importance.—Ever yours,

‘William Legrand.’

There was something in the tone of this note which gave me great uneasiness. Its whole style differed materially from that of Legrand. What could he be dreaming of? What new crotchet possessed his excitable