Gilbert found Augustus standing at a little distance from the group of slaves contemplating Cora with the insolently admiring glance with which the master surveys his property.
She was no longer the woman who had scorned and defied him. She was his slave, his purchased slave, over whom the law gave him full and indisputable authority.
"Mr. Horton," said Gilbert, in a voice rendered hoarse by emotion, "let me speak to you a few moments?"
The planter bowed superciliously. "Well, sir?" he said, as they withdrew to a solitary corner of the auction room.
"You are aware that had my means enabled me, I would have outbid you just now in the purchase of Miss Leslie."
Augustus Horton laughed aloud.
"Miss Leslie!" he repeated scornfully; "we don't call the slaves Miss and Mr. down south. I guess you would like to outbid me for this Octoroon girl, Cora, but I'm happy to say you weren't able to do it. Had you bid a hundred thousand dollars, I'd have outbid you, and if you'd doubled that I'd have outbid you still. No man comes cheaply between Augustus Horton and his will."
"Tell me," said Gilbert, "tell me, what do you want with Mr. Leslie's daughter. Why do you want to become her master?"
Again Augustus laughed, and the hot blood mounted to Gilbert's cheek as he heard the mocking laughter.
"If it comes to that," said the planter, "why do you want her?"