Of course the African did not know that he was seen by anyone, least of all by the man whose property he had with him.
Silent-footed as he was, Lady Arabella heard him coming, and turned to meet him.

It was somewhat hard to see in the gloom, for, as usual, he was all in black, only his collar and cuffs showing white.

Lady Arabella opened the conversation which ensued between the two.
"What do you want?
To rob me, or murder me ?" "No, to lub you!" This frightened her a little, and she tried to change the tone.
"Is that a coffin you have with you?
If so, you are wasting your time.
It would not hold me." When a nigger suspects he is being laughed at, all the ferocity of his nature comes to the front; and this man was of the lowest kind.
"Dis ain't no coffin for nobody.

Dis box is for you.

Somefin you lub.
Me give him to you!" Still anxious to keep off the subject of affection, on which she believed him to have become crazed, she made another effort to keep his mind elsewhere.
"Is this why you want to see me ?" He nodded.