He was about
fifty years of age, apparently. His hair and whiskers were a mixture of
gray and black; his countenance was full, and his complexion florid,
which contrasted oddly with the green spectacles that rested upon his
nose.
"Do I have the honor of addressing Dr. Vaudelier?" said, the stranger,
in a tone so soft and silky that the doctor could hardly persuade
himself it did not proceed from a woman.
"That is my name, sir; and to whom am I indebted for this unexpected
pleasure?"
"De Guy, sir,--Antoine De Guy, at your service," squeaked the visitor,
with whom the reader is already acquainted.
"Well, sir, may I inquire the object of your visit?"
"Certainly, sir. I am informed there is a lady at present residing with
you, one of the unfortunate persons who were on board the Chalmetta at
the time of her late disaster. A Miss Dumont."
"Who informed you, sir?"
De Guy hesitated a little, and then said he heard a number of gentlemen
discuss the late disaster at the hotel in Vicksburg; that one of them
had mentioned this fact--he really could not tell the gentleman's name.
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