This ungrateful black had run away with his, George Grey's, horse--a personal wrong.

His duty to Woodburn was plain.

Then, if this black fellow was as Swallow said, a favourite of Captain Penhallow, to plan his capture while himself a guest in Penhallow's house was rather an awkward business.
However, he felt that he must inform his friend Woodburn, after which he would turn him over to Swallow and not appear in the business at all.

It did not, however, present itself to the Maryland gentleman as a nice situation.

If his cousin Ann were, as he easily learned, a strong Democrat, it might be well to sound her on the general situation.