Hope, together with the addition of a smaller sum in ready cash, made the amount of £14,000; the whole of which by legal and correct attestations was made over to himself, duly signed by Robert in the presence of witnesses, who had also put their oaths and seals, and which awaited only his own signature to receive confirmation*[1].
"My dear Robert," ejaculated the General, after a pause, during which he had been literally speechless from astonishment, "what in the world am I to conceive of this? you would beggar yourself to enrich me! One would imagine you wished to try whether I have strength of mind, honour, and probity sufficient to resist so great a temptation."
"No, goot Massa," returned the black in imploring accents; "but it has been for you dat me owe having got so much; my zeal to make amends for all your past gootness: me have made it over to you, and if you refuse it, me shall die miserable."
"Die miserable unless I consent to rob you—to deprive you, Robert, of all your honest and industrious earnings! But it is immense what you have acquired in the space of these last twelve or fourteen years that we have been separated; and it appears to me, in the noble donation you would bestow upon me, that you have not reserved even the smallest mite for yourself. The mists that surrounded me on
- ↑ * Founded on fact.
