Mose was so absorbed in his recital that he did not notice the full effects of his words on his mistress. As his story continued, a great change came over her. Her breathing quickened until it came in short and labored gasps. First a deeper color of red suffused her cheeks, then a crimson overspread her face and neck, which was soon followed by a paleness which marked her face with an ashen hue. How that poor heart was troubled! Now its violent beatings force the hot blood to face and hands and feet; then with the cruel news it takes into itself the torrid currents of blood, leaving the face and extremities cold and bloodless and a feeling of suffocation in the lungs. By a supreme effort of will, which God has made sovereign over the emotions, she calmed her beating heart and considered what was best to be done.
"Mose, you are quite sure you have told me all you heard?"
"Yes, Miss Viola, I is, kase de wo'ds made such a 'pression on mah mind dat I 'members dem zackly."
"You are certain they selected Tuesday night for their wicked acts?"
"Dey spoke of Chewsday night, and tuk it bekase Mas'r Very is to go dat way dat night."
"You can leave me now for an hour, but at eight o'clock come back and I will send by you a message to Mr. Very."
When the negro had left, Viola LeMonde retired to her own room and seating herself at her writing desk, wrote the following communication:
"Mount Pisgah, January 6, 181—.
The Rev. Jasper Very,
Dear Mr. Very: