Todd was summoned and thus the last connecting link between the past and present was broken and the precious heirloom turned over to Kirk, the silversmith, who the next day found a purchaser with one of the French secretaries in Washington, a descendant of the marquis.
With the whole of the purchase money in his hands and his mind firmly made up he rang for his servant: "Come along, Todd--show me where Aunt Jemima lives--it's somewhere down by the market, I hear--I'm going now." The darky's face got as near white as his skin would allow: this was the last thing he had expected.
"Dat ain't no fit place for ye, Marse George," he stammered.

"I'll go an' git her an' bring her up; she tol' me when I carried dat las' washin' down she wuz a-comin' dis week." "No, her sister is sick and she is needed where she is.

Get your basket and come along--you can do your marketing down there.

Bring me my hat and cane.

What's the matter with her sister, do you know ?" Again the darky hedged: "Dunno, sah--some kin' o' mis'ry in her back I reckon.