"Shall we be off?"
"At once, if you will be good enough to tell me who you are and where we are going?"
"I am surprised that you did not recognise me long ago, for we have been for some time past on excellent, if not intimate terms."
"That may be; the sound of your voice is rather familiar to me, and I fancy I have heard it before, but it is impossible for me to recall either when or under what circumstances."
"By Heaven, Colonel! You will allow me to remark that you have a preciously short memory. But since our last meeting, so many events have occurred, that it is not surprising you should have forgotten me. With one word I will recall everything to your mind—I am John Davis, the ex-slave dealer."
"You!" the Colonel exclaimed, with a start of surprise.
"Yes, I am that person."
"Ah! Ah!" the Colonel continued, as he crossed his arms haughtily and looked him in the face, "In that case we have an account to settle."
"I am not aware of the fact, Colonel."
"You forget, Master Davis, in what manner you abused my confidence in order to betray me."