some　idea　of　the　shape。〃　Saying　this；　he　seated　himself　at　a　small
  table；　on　which　were　a　pen　and　ink；　but　no　paper。　He　looked　for　some
  in　a　drawer；　but　found　none。
  〃Never　mind；〃　said　he　at　length；　〃this　will　answer；〃　and　he
  drew　from　his　waistcoat　pocket　a　scrap　of　what　I　took　to　be　very
  dirty　foolscap；　and　made　upon　it　a　rough　drawing　with　the　pen。　While
  he　did　this；　I　retained　my　seat　by　the　fire；　for　I　was　still　chilly。
  When　the　design　was　complete；　he　handed　it　to　me　without　rising。　As　I
  received　it；　a　loud　growl　was　heard；　succeeded　by　a　scratching　at　the
  door。　Jupiter　opened　it；　and　a　large　Newfoundland；　belonging　to
  Legrand；　rushed　in；　leaped　upon　my　shoulders；　and　loaded　me　with
  caresses；　for　I　had　shown　him　much　attention　during　previous　visits。
  When　his　gambols　were　over；　I　looked　at　the　paper；　and；　to　speak　the
  truth；　found　myself　not　a　little　puzzled　at　what　my　friend　had
  depicted。
  〃Well！〃　I　said；　after　contemplating　it　for　some　minutes；　〃this　is
  a　strange　scarab鎢s；　I　must　confess：　new　to　me：　never　saw　anything
  like　it　before　…　unless　it　was　a　skull；　or　a　death's…head　…　which　it
  more　nearly　resembles　than　anything　else　that　has　come　under　my
  observation。〃
  〃A　death's…head！〃　echoed　Legrand　…〃Oh　…　yes　…　well；　it　has
  something　of　that　appearance　upon　paper；　no　doubt。　The　two　upper
  black　spots　look　like　eyes；　eh？　and　the　longer　one　at　the　bottom　like
  a　mouth　…　and　then　the　shape　of　the　whole　is　oval。〃
  〃Perhaps　so；〃　said　I；　〃but；　Legrand；　I　fear　you　are　no　artist。　I
  must　wait　until　I　see　the　beetle　itself；　if　I　am　to　form　any　idea　of
  its　personal　appearance。〃
  〃Well；　I　don't　know；〃　said　he；　a　little　nettled；　〃I　draw
  tolerably　…　should　do　it　at　least　…　have　had　good　masters；　and
  flatter　myself　that　I　am　not　quite　a　blockhead。〃
  〃But；　my　dear　fellow；　you　are　joking　then；〃　said　I；　〃this　is　a
  very　passable　skull　…　indeed；　I　may　say　that　it　is　a　very　excellent
  skull；　according　to　the　vulgar　notions　about　such　specimens　of
  physiology　…　and　your　scarab鎢s　must　be　the　queerest　scarab鎢s　in　the
  world　if　it　resembles　it。　Why；　we　may　get　up　a　very　thrilling　bit　of
  superstition　upon　this　hint。　I　presume　you　will　call　the　bug
  scarab鎢s　caput　hominis；　or　something　of　that　kind　…　there　are　many
  similar　titles　in　the　Natural　Histories。　But　where　are　the　antenn？
  you　spoke　of？〃
  〃The　antenn？〃　said　Legrand；　who　seemed　to　be　getting
  unaccountably　warm　upon　the　subject；　〃I　am　sure　you　must　see　the
  antenn？　I　made　them　as　distinct　as　they　are　in　the　original　insect；
  and　I　presume　that　is　sufficient。〃
  〃Well；　well；〃　I　said；　〃perhaps　you　have　…　still　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　me　…　and；　as　for　the　drawing
  of　the　beetle；　there　were　positively　no　antenn？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　red　…　in　another　as　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　de　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！　dat'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　find　nowhar　…　dat's　just　whar　de　shoe
  pinch　…　my　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　him　…　but　den　what
  make　him　go　about　looking　dis　here　way；　wid　he　head　down　and　he
  soldiers　up；　and　as　white　as　a　gose？　And　den　he　keep　a　syphon　all　de
  time　…　〃
  〃Keeps　a　what；　Jupiter？〃
  〃Keeps　a　syphon　wid　de　figgurs　on　de　slate　…　de　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　come　…　but
  Ise　sich　a　fool　dat　I　hadn't　de　heart　arter　all　…　he　look　so　berry
  poorly。〃
  〃Eh？　…　what？　…　ah　yes！　…　upon　the　whole　I　think　you　had　better
  not　be　too　severe　with　the　poor　fellow　…　don't　flog　him；　Jupiter　…　he
  can't　very　well　stand　it　…　but　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　unpleasant　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　bug　…　dare　now。〃
  〃The　what？〃
  〃De　bug；　…　I'm　berry　sartain　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　mouth　too。　I　nebber　did　see　sick　a
  deuced　bug　…　he　kick　and　he　bite　ebery　ting　what　cum　near　him。　Massa
  Will　cotch　him　fuss；　but　had　for　to　let　him　go　gin　mighty　quick；　I
  tell　you　…　den　was　de　time　he　must　ha　got　de　bite。　I　did　n't　like　de
  look　oh　de　bug　mouff；　myself；　no　how；　so　I　would　n't　take　hold　ob　him
  wid　my　finger；　but　I　cotch　him　wid　a　piece　ob　paper　dat　I　found。　I
  rap　him　up　in　de　paper　and　stuff　piece　ob　it　in　he　mouff　…　dat　was　de
  way。〃
  〃And　you　think；　then；　that　your　master　was　really　bitten　by　the
  beetle；　and　that　the　bite　made　him　sick？〃
  〃I　do　n't　tink　noffin　about　it　…　I　nose　it。　What　make　him　dream
  bout　de　goole　so　much；　if　taint　cause　he　bit　by　de　goole…bug？　Ise
  heerd　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　sleep　…　dat'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　offence　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　main　land。　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　g