University of Virginia Library

23. CHAPTER XXIII.
THE QUADROON.

The plot laid for the rich young man was as successful, so far as it progressed,
as Philip Clow's ambitious views could desire. Ellery was completely
fascinated by the beauty and wit, and seeming partiality for himself,
of the handsome opera-singer. He surrendered his senses to the bewildering
charm of her presence, and when the mulatto, who, invisibly, had overlooked
the whole interview, came into the boudoir, after the lapse of half an
hour, Carlton turned to him, and said, warmly,

`Signor, in making me acquainted with this charming person, you have
conferred on me a favor I can never return. Must I leave you now, fair
Signora?'

`Signora will soon have to go to the Opera-house, and we had best withdraw,
Mr. Ellery,' said Clow.

`Adieu, then, charming Signora,' said Carlton, kissing his hand. `Adieu
till I see you at the opera, there again to listen to that sweet voice which has
entranced my senses.'

With this gallant speech Ellery took his leave, and with the mulatto descended
the hall stairs. When they had reentered the cab, Clow said,
quietly,

`Mr. Ellery, how were you pleased?'

`Pleased!' he repeated, with animation. `I was enchanted — fascinated!
I never beheld so lovely a person. And such eyes. They are magnificent!
Such teeth. They are pearls — rich clusters of pearls! Such a voice. It
is music in every accent! And her figure. How superb! She is certainly
the most beautiful person I ever beheld!'

`I knew you would be as pleased with her at home as you were on the
stage,' said the mulatto, concealing his deep feeling of gratification under a
tone of quiet.

`How kind you were to leave me to have the interview with her alone.
No introduction either; and yet she received me with such kindness and
grace!'

`She was prepared for your visit.'

`So she said. What a luxurious abode she has. She has exquisite taste,
and has every thing very elegant and recherche!'

`Then you are pleased with her?'

`Infatuated! Where was her father?'

`Her father?'

`Yes; the old Signor.'

`Oh, ah! I was down stairs talking with him about the opera.'

`He knew I was with his charming daughter?'

`Yes.'

`Then he is not jealous of her?'

`Signor de — knows that he can have confidence in whoever I introduce.'

`I envy your position with him. I should like to know him.'

`He does not speak English, and therefore seldom sees any one.'

`And I do not speak Portuguese; so I must talk with his daughter,'

`You do not expect to see her again?'

`Do not?'

`Yes.'

`Certainly I do. Do you suppose, after I have had an introduction to so
fair a creature, I can go away and forget it. No, no, Philip. The lovely
Signora and I must be friends!'

`I promised only to introduce you to her. I have performed my promise.
You cannot see her again.'

`Cannot?' demanded Ellery, with angry surprise.

`No, Mr. Ellery. Your notice of her would mar her fair fame. Her
reputation is all she possesses.'

`An opera-girl's reputation!' repeated the young man, with a sneer.

`I have told you she is noble and virtuous. She was not always an opera-girl.
You know her history. Her blood is as noble as your own. Your
acquaintance would dishonor her!'

`This is plain speaking, Clow.'

`You know it, as well as I, that it would. Did you see anything in her
that was unbecoming a modest maiden?'

`No. She seemed as pure as she was beautiful!'

`She seemed what she is. You have seen her, and now forget her.'

`Never!'

`What motive have you in seeking her further acquaintance?' asked Clow,
bluntly.

`Well, that would be difficult to tell. She is very lovely, and loveliness
is captivating! She is witty, and wit charms! She has a delightful voice,
and this is pleasing to the ear! In a word, it is very agreeable to know
such a person.'

`But her fair name must not be sacrificed for your pleasure! You had
best see her no more.'

`I must see her again! This acquaintance shall not terminate so.'

`I am in some sort responsible, Mr. Ellery, having introduced you. I
know your character for levity with the sex, and I should condemn myself
for permitting your further visits. I can prevent them. A word from me,
and you would never behold her again!'

`Clow, do you love the Signora yourself?'

`No. I love but one, whose name you know. I do not fear in you a
rival. I have, moreover, the utmost confidence in her purity of character
and principles. I have fulfilled my promise to you, in introducing you. I
shall perform my duty to her, by refusing permission for you to see her
again.'

`You seem to hold great power over her,' said the young man, with
surprise.

`Only that of a friend. I am responsible for your honorable conduct in
reference to her.'

Both were silent for a few moments, when Ellery said,

`Clow, I am infatuated with this lovely girl. I am in love with her. My
senses are intoxicated with her glorious beauty. It is impossible for me to
consent never to see her again in her home! Will gold be an inducement?'

`No, Mr. Ellery,' answered the mulatto, firmly. `There is but one condition
only on which you will be permitted to see her.'

`Name it, and if it is half my uncle's wealth, you shall have it signed over to you!'

`It is not a condition of money. It is, that you confess to me that your
intentions are honorable.'

`Honorable?'

`You understand me.'

`Do you seriously mean to ask if I am willing to address her?'

`Yes.'

`A Jewess?'

`Yes.'

`An opera-singer?'

`Yes.'

`You jest, Philip!'

`More than one English nobleman has been married to opera-singers and
actresses.'

`That is true — that is very true,' responded Ellery, musingly. `But that
is a different thing.'

`You have rank and wealth. Why should you not follow their example?'
said the insinuating and subtle mulatto.

`But what would the world say?'

`They would envy you the possession of such a treasure. Besides, you
pride yourself on your independence. You have no one to consult but your
own wishes and humors. You are sure of your uncle's fortune. You will
be observed and imitated, and take a certain lead in fashion. Your wife's
talents, wit, and beauty, will place her and yourself both in an enviable position
in society. If you are not received here as you desire, there is London
and Paris. There you will be distinguished. Carlton Ellery, Esq., and his
beautiful Jewess bride will be on every lip. You say you are in love! You say
you are infatuated! If this is true, it will require no sacrifice on your part
to take the honorable step I point out, and which is the only condition on
which you can again see her. I leave the subject to your consideration.
Whenever you say you are willing to marry her, if she will accept you, I
promise you to favor your suit so far as I have any influence with her
father. On no other condition will you be able to see her again.'

`But she may decline a proposal of marriage.'

`You have only to see her, and propose it to her.'

`Well, the conditions are not hard, Philip,' answered Ellery, laughing.
`I should be the gainer. If I thought she would marry me, I would not
hesitate, I verily believe. I will tell you what I will do, Philip. Go with
me once more there, as you say no one can be admitted unless you accompany
them — go with me again to-morrow evening, and let me have one
more interview with her. If I decide then not to propose to her, I will
never ask to see her again. Give me one more interview before I decide.'

`I consent to it. To-morrow evening, at the same hour, call on me, and
I will accompany you.'

`Thanks, good Philip, thanks! We are now at your door. I will take
the cab to the opera, where I hope once more to see my fascinatress. I fear
she has me in a net, and that I shall have to surrender myself her willing
prisoner! But one more interview, and the charm will be either broken, or
riveted for life.'

The mulatto now alighted at his own door, and the cab drove away with
the young man. Clow entered the side door of his dingy-looking inn, and
ascending the stairs, passed into his private room by means of a catch-key.
He closed and fastened the door behind him, went through the opposite one

into his sister's boudoir, and then opening a door on the opposite side, he
passed out into the very hall, with the lighted chandelier, and gorgeous pictures,
and showy furniture, which had attracted the eyes of Carlton Ellery.
The fact was, Clow's dwelling had two fronts, one of them being upon a
street several feet lower than the other front, which was upon a handsome
court. A person acquainted with the passages could enter at the door on
the court, and passing first up and then down flights of stairs, and then
through passages, could descend and pass out on the lower street by the inn
door. The `Court' or `Place' door could be reached only by driving or
walking round the square, which was some distance, and so down the court
to the house. In the evening, as it was when Carlton rode from his door
with him to call on the opera-singer, the distance seemed great, and Carlton
believed, when he landed at her door, that he was in quite a different part
of the city from Clow's inn, when, in fact, he was not twenty rods, in a direct
line through the house, from the place where he got into the cab. The
secret of the connection between the two houses was only known to Clow,
his sister, and the young fair-haired servant-girl, who was Isabel's attendant.
This child was an orphan, whom Clow had got bound to him, because she
was so very fair, and therefore represented the distinctive hue of the race
which he hated with a passion that was a part of his nature. This child he
treated as a slave; and if he had had it in his power, and she could have
borne it, he would have heaped upon her head the weight of the ignominy,
suffering, and infamy which the race from which he sprung endured in bondage
from her own. This child was truly his slave. She feared his slightest
look, and trembled whenever he spoke to her. With her the secret was
safe; for her pale lips would never have dared reveal what she had witnessed
within the walls of her master.

The mulatto entered the luxurious drawing-room, where he found Isabel
alone.

`Well, Isabel,' he said gaily, as he approached her, `you have acted your
part to please me! What think you of my young heir? this prince of the
white blood?'

`I despise him,' she answered, with a look of contempt. `He is the worshipper
of himself, and utterly destitute of principle!'

`You have done well to conceal your sentiments to him! He is deeply
enamoured. You have captivated his imagination so perfectly, that all I
have to do is to suggest, for him to acquiesce! In a word, he is infatuated,
and will never rest till you consent to wed him!'

`Then he will long remain at unrest! I would rather give my hand to
the basest slave of our accursed race, than to such an one as he!'

`Do not anger me.'

`I must speak as I feel. Carlton Ellery shall never have this hand in
wedlock, though he sue for it on his knees!'

`But you forget — it is revenge we both seek! Vengeance upon the haughty
race that despises us! I do not expect you to love him! I expect you
to wed him to be avenged on him for his scorn of our race, and to triumph
when he shall find he has wedded the daughter of a generation of Ethiopian
slaves! This is the great end you should keep in view. For this you
should be willing to sacrifice yourself! Let no meaner considerations cross
your path to vengeance. Will it not be worth a life's sacrifice to raise yourself
to a level with him and his race; to hold the place in his heart and
home the fair white daughters of this proud city would covet to take? Is it

not enough reward to elevate, in your person, our degraded blood to a level
with that of those who hold themselves our masters?'

`If I could love this man!' she said, hesitatingly.

`Hate him! I do not wish you to love him! Marry him for hatred, not
for love! Show him after, that it was for hatred and not for love that you
did wed him! The more bitterly you hate him, the more reason have you
to wed him!'

The young girl reflected a few moments.

`On one condition I will wed him for the hatred I bear him and his
race.'

`Name it.'

`That you will suffer me, unrestrained, to carry out my own plans with
reference to the young man I so madly love, and whom I expect here at
eight o'clock.'

`So that it does not interfere with Ellery, I consent.'

`I promise you it shall not.'