human
Send for me when you think fit, and I will come, madame. But, Therese, one word. I am aware that Monsieur Papalier is here. Do not forget that you are a Christian, and pledged to forgive injuries.
gpt
You think you read my thoughts, L'Ouverture; but you do not. Listen, and I am gone. His voice once had power over me through love, and then through hatred. I never miss the lightest word he speaks. I heard him tell his old friends from Cap that I was his slave, and that the time was coming when masters would claim their own again. Now you know my thoughts.
human
Meditation is good, said Toussaint, laying his hand on his friend's shoulder.
gpt
Lamentation is unworthy.
human
It is so; and we have much to do,
gpt
Fear not, resumed Toussaint,
human
Are we to lose Dessalines?
gpt
I believe not. He is severely wounded, and, at this moment, exasperated. He vows the death of Monsieur Papalier; and I vow his safety while he is my guest.
human
Papalier and Madame Dessalines cannot exist in one house.
gpt
And therefore must this deputation be dismissed early in the morning, if there were no other reasons. Notice must be carried to them with their coffee, that I am awaiting them with my replies. Those delivered, negotiation is at an end, and we must act. My foes have struck the blow which unties my hands.
human
What has Monsieur Papalier to do with the deputation?
gpt
Nothing, but that he uses its protection to attempt to resume his estates. They are in commission; and he may have them; though not, as he thinks, with men and women as part of his chattels. No more of him.
human
Of whom next, then? Except Christophe, who is there worthy to be named by you?
gpt
Every one who has deserted us, except, perhaps, La Plume. He is sordid; and I dismiss him. As for Clerveaux and his thousands, they have been weak, but not, perhaps, wicked. They may be recovered. I take the blame of their weakness upon myself. Would that I alone could bear the consequences!
human
You take the blame of their weakness? Is not their former slavery the cause of it? Is there anything in their act but the servility in which they were reared?
gpt
There is much of that. But I have deepened the taint, in striving to avoid the opposite corruption of revenge. I have the taint myself. The stain of slavery exists in the First of the Blacks himself. Let all others, then, be forgiven. They may thus be recovered. I gave them the lesson of loving and trusting the whites. They have done so, to the point of being treacherous to me. I must now give them another lesson, and time to learn it; and they may possibly be redeemed.
human
You will hold out in the mornes--conduct your resistance on a pinnacle, where the eyes of the blacks may be raised to you--fixed upon you.
gpt
Just so;--and where they may flock to me, when time shall have taught them my principle and my policy, and revealed the temper and purpose of our invaders. Now, then, to prepare!