Yet stay! Does it come from Nick Burton, the flatboat-man ?" "No, sah; it am a lady wat sent me yere." He was excessively polite, exhibiting an earnestness which caused me to suspect his mission a grave one.
"A lady ?" I echoed the unexpected word, scarcely capable of believing the testimony of my own ears.

Yet as I did so my heart almost ceased its throbbing, while I felt the hot blood rush to my face.

That was an age of social gallantry; yet I was no gay courtier of the town, but a hunter of the woods, attired in rough habiliments, little fitted to attract the attention of womanly eyes amid the military glitter all about.
A lady! In the name of all the gods, what lady?
Even in the old days I enjoyed but a limited circle of acquaintance among women.

Indeed, I recalled only one in all the wide province of Louisiana who might justly be accorded so high an appellation even by a negro slave, and certainly she knew nothing of my presence in New Orleans, nor would she dream of sending for me if she did.

Convinced of this, I dismissed the thought upon the instant, with a smile.