“And the principle of liberty?” burst out the counsellor. “And the principle of liberty? I concede that the negroes were skilful cooks; but liberty is a greater good.”
He expatiated on the subject, denouncing the traffic in slaves; he insinuated doubts regarding the philanthropy of the English; he was very severe with the planters of New Orleans, and related the case of Charles et Georges. He addressed himself exclusively to Julião, who continued to smoke, with his eyes bent on the floor.
Donna Felicidade sat down beside Luiza, and whispered with anxiety,—
“Have you ever seen the counsellor’s servant?”
“No.”
“Do you suppose she is pretty?”
Luiza shrugged her shoulders.
“I begin to fear I know not what, Luiza. I am suffocating.”
And while Accacio discoursed, standing before Julião, she continued to whisper her amatory complaints in Luiza’s ear.
What a relief it was to Luiza when they went away! What had she not suffered in secret during the evening! How tiresome, how stupid they were! And that woman, who had not yet returned! What a life was hers!