I had, during my brief residence in New Orleans, witnessed jealous treachery on every hand.

This had taught me that enemies of my race were numerous, while, it was probable, not more than a dozen fellow-countrymen were then in New Orleans.

They would prove powerless were I to become involved in any quarrel.

Extreme caution under such conditions became a paramount duty, and it can scarcely be wondered at that I hesitated to trust the black, continuing to study the real purpose of his mysterious message.
Yet the rare good-humor and simple interest of his face tended to reassure me.

A lady, he said--well, surely no great harm would result from such an interview; and if, as was probable, it should prove a mere case of mistaken identity, a correction could easily follow, and I should then be free to go my way.