Lady Arabella was not usually a humorous person, but no man or woman of the white race could have checked the laughter which rose spontaneously to her lips.

The circumstances were too grotesque, the contrast too violent, for subdued mirth.

The man a debased specimen of one of the most primitive races of the earth, and of an ugliness which was simply devilish; the woman of high degree, beautiful, accomplished.

She thought that her first moment's consideration of the outrage--it was nothing less in her eyes--had given her the full material for thought.

But every instant after threw new and varied lights on the affront.