Page:Rowland--In the shadow.djvu/182

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IN THE SHADOW



physical brutality held so much of her contempt and desire.

"It is easy to see that you are just from England, monsieur," she answered. "You are still in an atmosphere of fog and cold. When you have been a week in Hayti you will be different." Her marvelous eyes caressed his own. "I will ask you to remember, dear friend, that there is one in Hayti to whom you may always come in perplexity and the advice of whom you need not despise."

Dessalines bowed his head, raised her graceful hand slowly to his lips, but the action was passionless.

When the steamer arrived in New York Dessalines bade the Fouchères au revoir, first having promised the doctor to avail himself of his hospitality promptly upon his arrival in Hayti. As he left the gang plank, a tall, dark man stepped from the crowd of those waiting to greet arriving friends, and confronted Dessalines.

"My dear Comte!" he exclaimed in French, holding out a powerful, sinewy hand.

"Oh, oh! Rosenthal, camarade!" cried Dessalines eagerly. They embraced in the quaint French manner still to be seen in Hayti, kissing each other upon the cheeks. Rosenthal disengaged himself and held Dessalines at arm's length.

"You are as handsome as ever, my dear fellow!" he cried. They laughed. "You have had a good passage?"

"Delightful! I had the good fortune to fall in with the Fouchères who are returning."

"Ah!" The Jew's exclamation was sharp, incisive.

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