This then had probably been his real purpose from the start.

He had followed Beaucaire deliberately with this final end in view--of ruining him, and thus compelling the daughter to yield herself.

He had egged the man on, playing on the weakness of his nature, baiting him to finally risk all on a game of chance, the real stake not the money on the table, but the future of this young girl.
"You--you have never seen her ?" "No, but I have met those who have.

She is reported to be beautiful, and, better still, worth fifty thousand dollars." "And you actually mean that you propose now to force Judge Beaucaire's daughter to marry you ?" "Well hardly that, although I shall use whatever means I possess.

I intend to win her if I can, fair means, or foul." I drew a deep breath, comprehending now the full iniquity of his plot, and bracing myself to fight it.
"And what about the other girl, Kirby?
for there is another girl." "Yes," rather indifferently, "there is another." "Of course you know who she is ?" "Certainly--a nigger, a white nigger; the supposed illegitimate daughter of Adelbert Beaucaire, and a slave woman.