'I haven't told her; she'll feel badly to have him go, but it's not right for me to pay the money. I should pay my debts first.'
Mr. Gaston, whose attention had been attracted to our conversation by my rather boisterous conversation, now said, making a strong effort to appear serious:
'Excuse me, Squire, but what is it? Has Mulock two wives; and does one offer to sell out for a hundred dollars?'
'Yes,' replied Preston, in a tone which showed a decided disinclination to conversation with him.
'Buy him, then, Squire; I'll give you twenty-five dollars for the bargain, on the spot; I will, I swear;' and, unable to contain himself longer, he burst into an uproarious fit of merriment, in which the by-sitters joined.
Preston's face darkened, and in a grave voice he said:
'Young man, you forget yourself. I am sorry to see you so wanting in respect to others, and—yourself.'
'I beg your pardon, Mr. Preston,' replied Gaston, in an apologetic tone; 'I meant no offence, sir—upon my soul, I did not. If Mulock is for sale for a—'here his risibilities again gave way—'for a hundred dollars, I'll buy him; for it's cheap; I swear it's cheap, seeing he's a white man.'
Preston, by this time really angered, was about to make a harsh reply, when I interrupted him:
'Never mind, my friend, let Mr. Gaston buy him; he can afford it. Do it, Mr. Gaston; it will be both a capital joke and a good action, do it at once.'