I watched the entrance for D’Hauteville. Why had he not arrived? My anxiety increased with the minutes.
True, it would still be an hour—perhaps two—before her time should come.—Ha!—what?
There was silence for a moment—something of interest was going on. I looked towards the rostrum for an explanation. A dark man had climbed upon one of the steps, and was whispering to the auctioneer.
He remained but a moment. He appeared to have asked some favour, which was at once conceded him, and he stepped back to his place among the crowd.
A minute or two intervened, and then, to my horror and astonishment, I saw the overseer take Aurore by the arm, and raise her upon the block! The intention was plain. She was to be sold next!
In the moments that followed, I cannot remember exactly how I acted. I ran wildly for the entrance. I looked out into the street. Up and down I glanced with anxious eyes. No D’Hauteville!
I rushed back into the hall—again through the outer circles of the crowd, in the direction of the rostrum.
The bidding had begun. I had not heard the preliminaries, but as I re-entered there fell upon my ears the terrible words—
“A thousand dollars for the Quadroon.—A thousand dollars bid!”
“O Heaven! D’Hauteville has deceived me. She is lost!—lost!”