"Pardon me," replied Mortimer Percy, "as Mr. Margrave is a stranger in Louisiana, he may have difficulty in finding any one to assist him in this matter. You will excuse me, therefore, if I give him the preference."
"As you please," answered Augustus, indifferently.
Gilbert grasped the hand of his old friend: "Thanks, Mortimer," he whispered, "your heart is generous as ever."
"Perhaps you won't mind having me for a second, Mr. Horton," said William Bowen; "I'm rather an old hand in that sort of affairs."
Augustus glanced at him with one brief look of contempt, but replied, after a pause, "Be it so, Mr. Bowen; I accept your services. This evening, then, Mr. Margrave. We meet at sunset, in the wood on the borders of Mr. Craig's plantation at Iberville."
"We shall be punctual," answered Gilbert.
CHAPTER XVI.
CAPTAIN PRENDERGILLS, OF THE AMAZON.
While the Selma steamed proudly past the banks of the Mississippi, the inhabitants of New Orleans were occupied by the discussion of an event which had taken place on the previous night, but which had only been discovered early that morning.
Paul Lisimon had escaped from prison.