Chapter 22

           AsthesteamerglidedonitswaytowardsNew-Orleans,perhapsIwasnothappy—perhapstherewasnodifficultyinrestrainingmyselffromdancingroundthedeck—perhapsIdidnotfeelgratefultothemanwhohadcomesomanyhundredmilesforme—perhapsIdidnotlighthispipe,andwaitandwatchhisword,andrunathisslightestbidding. IfIdidn’t—well,nomatter. 

           WetarriedatNew-Orleanstwodays. DuringthattimeIpointedoutthelocalityofFreeman’sslavepen,andtheroominwhichFordpurchasedme. WehappenedtomeetTheophilusinthestreet,butIdidnotthinkitworthwhiletorenewacquaintancewithhim. Fromrespectablecitizensweascertainedhehadbecomealow,miserablerowdy—abroken-down,disreputableman. 

           Wealsovisitedtherecorder,Mr.Genois,towhomSenatorSoule’sletterwasdirected,andfoundhimamanwelldeservingthewideandhonorablereputationthathebears. Heverygenerouslyfurnisheduswithasortoflegalpass,overhissignatureandsealofoffice,andasitcontainstherecorder’sdescriptionofmypersonalappearance,itmaynotbeamisstoinsertithere. Thefollowingisacopy: 

           "StateofLouisiana—CityofNew-Orleans: 

           Recorder’sOffice,SecondDistrict. 

           "Toalltowhomthesepresentsshallcome:—