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bug Scarabaeus caput hominis； or something of that kindthere are
many similar titles in the Natural Histories。 But where are the
antennae you spoke of？〃
〃The antennae！〃 said Legrand； who seemed to be getting
unaccountably warm upon the subject； 〃I am sure you must see the
antennae。 I made them as distinct as they are in the original
insect； and I presume that is sufficient。〃
〃Well； well；〃 I said； 〃perhaps you havestill I don't see them；〃
and I handed him the paper without additional remark； not wishing
to ruffle his temper； but I was much surprised at the turn affairs
had taken； his ill humor puzzled meand； as for the drawing of the
beetle； there were positively NO antennae visible； and the whole
DID bear a very close resemblance to the ordinary cuts of a death's
head。
He received the paper very peevishly； and was about to crumple it；
apparently to throw it in the fire； when a casual glance at the
design seemed suddenly to rivet his attention。 In an instant his
face grew violently redin another excessively pale。 For some
minutes he continued to scrutinize the drawing minutely where he
sat。 At length he arose； took a candle from the table； and
proceeded to seat himself upon a sea chest in the farthest corner
of the room。 Here again he made an anxious examination of the
paper； turning it in all directions。 He said nothing； however； and
his conduct greatly astonished me； yet I thought it prudent not to
exacerbate the growing moodiness of his temper by any comment。
Presently he took from his coat pocket a wallet； placed the paper
carefully in it； and deposited both in a writing desk； which he
locked。 He now grew more composed in his demeanor； but his
original air of enthusiasm had quite disappeared。 Yet he seemed
not so much sulky as abstracted。 As the evening wore away he
became more and more absorbed in reverie； from which no sallies of
mine could arouse him。 It had been my intention to pass the night
at the hut； as I had frequently done before； but； seeing my host in
this mood； I deemed it proper to take leave。 He did not press me
to remain； but； as I departed； he shook my hand with even more than
his usual cordiality。
It was about a month after this （and during the interval I had seen
nothing of Legrand） when I received a visit； at Charleston； from
his man； Jupiter。 I had never seen the good old negro look so
dispirited； and I feared that some serious disaster had befallen my
friend。
〃Well； Jup；〃 said I； 〃what is the matter now？how is your master？〃
〃Why； to speak the troof； massa； him not so berry well as mought
be。〃
〃Not well！ I am truly sorry to hear it。 What does he complain
of？〃
〃Dar！ dot's it！him neber 'plain of notin'but him berry sick for
all dat。〃
〃VERY sick； Jupiter！why didn't you say so at once？ Is he
confined to bed？〃
〃No； dat he aint！he aint 'fin'd nowhardat's just whar de shoe
pinchmy mind is got to be berry hebby 'bout poor Massa Will。〃
〃Jupiter； I should like to understand what it is you are talking
about。 You say your master is sick。 Hasn't he told you what ails
him？〃
〃Why； massa； 'taint worf while for to git mad about de matter
Massa Will say noffin at all aint de matter wid himbut den what
make him go about looking dis here way； wid he head down and he
soldiers up； and as white as a goose？ And den he keep a syphon all
de time〃
〃Keeps a what； Jupiter？〃
〃Keeps a syphon wid de figgurs on de slatede queerest figgurs I
ebber did see。 Ise gittin' to be skeered； I tell you。 Hab for to
keep mighty tight eye 'pon him 'noovers。 Todder day he gib me slip
'fore de sun up and was gone de whole ob de blessed day。 I had a
big stick ready cut for to gib him deuced good beating when he did
comebut Ise sich a fool dat I hadn't de heart arter allhe
looked so berry poorly。〃
〃Eh？what？ah yes！upon the whole I think you had better not be
too severe with the poor fellowdon't flog him； Jupiterhe can't
very well stand itbut can you form no idea of what has occasioned
this illness； or rather this change of conduct？ Has anything
unpleasant happened since I saw you？〃
〃No； massa； dey aint bin noffin onpleasant SINCE den'twas 'FORE
den I'm feared'twas de berry day you was dare。〃
〃How？ what do you mean。〃
〃Why； massa； I mean de bugdare now。〃
〃The what？〃
〃De bugI'm berry sartin dat Massa Will bin bit somewhere 'bout de
head by dat goole…bug。〃
〃And what cause have you； Jupiter； for such a supposition？〃
〃Claws enuff； massa； and mouff； too。 I nebber did see sich a
deuced bughe kick and he bite eberyting what cum near him。 Massa
Will cotch him fuss； but had for to let him go 'gin mighty quick； I
tell youden was de time he must ha' got de bite。 I didn't like
de look ob de bug mouff； myself； nohow； so I wouldn't take hold oh
him wid my finger； but I cotch him wid a piece oh paper dat I
found。 I rap him up in de paper and stuff a piece of it in he
mouffdat was de way。〃
〃And you think； then； that your master was really bitten by the
beetle； and that the bite made him sick？〃
〃I don't think noffin about itI nose it。 What make him dream
'bout de goole so much； if 'taint cause he bit by the goole…bug？
Ise heered 'bout dem goole…bugs 'fore dis。〃
〃But how do you know he dreams about gold？〃
〃How I know？ why； 'cause he talk about it in he sleepdat's how I
nose。〃
〃Well； Jup； perhaps you are right； but to what fortunate
circumstance am I to attribute the honor of a visit from you to…
day？〃
〃What de matter； massa？〃
〃Did you bring any message from Mr。 Legrand？〃
〃No； massa； I bring dis here pissel；〃 and here Jupiter handed me a
note which ran thus：
〃MY DEAR
〃Why have I not seen you for so long a time？ I hope you have not
been so foolish as to take offense at any little brusquerie of
mine； but no； that is improbable。
〃Since I saw you I have had great cause for anxiety。 I have
something to tell you； yet scarcely know how to tell it； or whether
I should tell it at all。
〃I have not been quite well for some days past； and poor old Jup
annoys me； almost beyond endurance； by his well…meant attentions。
Would you believe it？he had prepared a huge stick； the other day；
with which to chastise me for giving him the slip； and spending the
day； solus； among the hills on the mainland。 I verily believe that
my ill looks alone saved me a flogging。
〃I have made no addition to my cabinet since we met。 〃If you can；
in any way； make it convenient； come over with Jupiter。 DO come。
I wish to see you TO…NIGHT； upon business of importance。 I assure
you that it is of the HIGHEST importance。
〃Ever yours；
〃WILLIAM LEGRAND。〃
There was something in the tone of this note which gave me great
uneasiness。 Its whole style differed materially from that of
Legrand。 What could he be dreaming of？ What new crotchet
possessed his excitab