Every new paper the overseer turned over
produced a start of apprehension, lest it might contain evidence of his
villany. His nerves had suffered terribly beneath the vision of guilt
and punishment that constantly haunted him. His new overseer, whom he
had partially admitted to his bosom as a confidant, had secured a strong
hold upon his fears. His presence seemed necessary to cheer him in his
lonely hours, to chase away the phantoms of vengeance that pursued him.
Harassed by doubts and fears, his constitution was, in some degree,
impaired, and his mind, losing the pillar upon which it rested, was
prone to yield also.
Dalhousie examined with minuteness the papers to which his attention had
been directed. Before him was a heap of documents of various kinds, all
in confusion,--bills and bonds, letters and deeds, were thrown
promiscuously together. His purpose was to sort and file them away for
future reference. This confusion among the papers was not the work of
Colonel Dumont; he had been strictly methodical and accurate in all his
business affairs.
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