Hespent the rest of the morning with them, and
parted on excellentterms.
As Anthony came down the ratlines, the Spanish
port-officersboarded the ship. There was not even a military aide on duty. Ilarned
Spanish and I made myself generally useful. What appeared to be snow scattered here
and there Anthony nowdiscovered was cotton. Indeed, that would havebeen only
physical. Never in any place in Europe had Anthony experienced anything
likeit.
Salcedo was not given to reading his confidential
dispatches beforestrangers.
MQuiston was then left fully revealed, flushed and
pop-eyed,paralysed from the waist down.
Just throw me down my hat that I left on the
table.
The sun no longer splinters dazzlingupon a glaze of
pure blue.
It was curious, but a genuine fellow-feeling had
already sprung up between them.
Your master has sold Louisiana to the United
States.
Conants introduction of himself was so lugubriously
proper,however, that it was obvious Mr. He had not been ableto keep it out of his
dispatches, which in some respects werealways childish. He peered over thetop of it
and looked at the French prefect and laughed again. Real estate was Greek to
Anthony, who contented himself with afriendly nod. Immediately before him, in the
very centre of it, lay a cluster ofthree or four thousand roofs.
Such was theBatture, or the American landing. Wall,
stranger, we from our vicinity dew rize most anywhar wereput.
He simplywent down and got into the
carriage.
Your master has sold Louisiana to the United
States.
Through the days to come in America Anthony was
often to bereminded of that. I shall soon be going, I suppose, he added a
bitsorrowfully.