gutter combat. In truth, I observe it only in general, my attention being claimed by the conduct of Richard and my yellow beauty, and the assembly at large as they behold the nauseating spectacle. For as it has begun, so it continues. Tom’s respite is but temporary, for the Ghost escapes the lock by breaking his right thumb. The spectators shriek for joy as Tom, with one hand useless, stands helpless under the rain of blows visited upon him. Round the stage he is driven by that roaring black demon whose strokes fall on his body with such fearful impact that it seems his ribs and spine must be shattered. Did the Black Ghost but know how to use his fist, like a rapier rather than a hammer, all would be over in a few rallies. But he clubs with his huge arms, delivers savage kicks a la savate, tears Tom’s hair from his head, rakes with clawing nails, and rends and bites when they close, with such ferocity that Tom falls repeatedly, and is twice hurled from the stage.
And the onlookers, then? They bay like dogs, exhorting the Ghost to maim, to kill, to gouge the eyes, to break the bones, to castrate. Men rise, eyes wild and faces engorged, aping with their fists the blows of the victor. Women white and black, their features like the masks of snarling leopards, squeal in ecstasy as the helpless flesh is pounded and the blood flows. My Richard waves his hands and rages blaspheming at his man to stand and fight, to smite the Ghost to perdition, and sinks back on the couch, his mouth trembling as with a seizure, groaning and all but weeping, a delightful picture of despair. The tender Mollybird shrieks and covers her face, but when Tom is hurled from the stage for the second time, and lies a bloody ruin before her, she casts herself upon him in a frenzy of grief.
“Stand clear, gel,” says Spicer, and stooping sinks his teeth in the lobe of Tom’s ear. He revives, but lies helpless as those nearest revile him, calling him a stinking coward nigger, urging him to resume and be slain, to afford them the sport of his torture, and the beaten hulk pulls himself up, with Richard bawling at him, and the man Spicer snapping at his ear: “Left ’and! Left ’and! You ain’t dead yet, lad! Stand away an’ give ’im Long Tom! Go fer ’is peepers! Left ’and, d’ye hear?”
Tom hears, for he nods his head, the blood flying from his face, and regains the stage. The Ghost rushes yelling and flailing for the kill, and is brought to a halt as Tom thrusts out his fist at full length. It jars upon that devilish face and gives him pause, then he brushes it aside, beating with his great forearms, and again Tom topples from the stage and lies like one dead.
Mollybird screams and seizes Richard by the hand, begging him to give in. “Please, Mass’ Richud, oh, please, doan’ let ’im beat ’im no mo’! Please, mass’, he dyin’! Oh, mass’, take pity on ’im! He cain’t no mo’!” I am touched, but Richard spurns her away, and runs raging at Tom, kicking him brutally in the side.
“Git up, yuh black bastard! Git up, damn yo’ lousy hide! Fight, yuh carrion! Quit on me, will yuh? Git up theah, or by God Ah’ll kill yuh!”
Spicer kneels by Tom’s head, and again bites the ear. Again, it revives, but he can only shake his head, horribly slobbered with blood from the gashes on his cheeks.
“’E’s done, guv’nor,” says Spicer, and Richard stands, his breath wheezing, speechless as he sees the death of his hopes in the battered carcase at his feet. Above on the stage the Black Ghost gibbers and struts in triumph, flinging up his hands, inviting the applause of the crowd who fling money and flowers and bon-bons to the stage. Blenkinsop approaches, lays a paw on Richard’s shoulder, and commiserates.
“Reckon yo’ boy cain’t lay ma ghost, Mol’neaux! He used up, seemin’ly. You give him best, Ah reckon.”
Richard does not hear him. He glares about him, at the gloating faces, at the Black Ghost prancing above, at the smug Blenkinsop who smokes his cigar and toys with his seals, smiling on his cronies. And Richard exceeds my fondest hopes, for in a voice hoarse with fury he stoops above Tom and shouts:
“You git up an’ fight! You fight till you daid, ye heah! Or by the holy Ah give you a death’ll last a week! Ah’ll have you lashed, real slow, till ev’y drop o’ black blood’s dreened clear out o’ yuh! Yuh heah me, yuh black swine! Git up, I say! Damn yuh! Fight, fight, fight!”
Mollybird swoons and I bid Ganymede place her on the couch beside me. The sensation of her slim shape within my embracing arm is infinitely pleasing, and as I put my flask to her lips I inhale the fragrance of her hair and feel the smooth skin beneath my fingers. I am of all men the least susceptible, but when her lids flutter and those wondrous eyes are revealed, and again I see the fear in their depths, it is too much. My desire conjures in my mind visions of ecstatic possession. I tremble in my turn as I picture her far from this sordid melee, in elysian surroundings to match her fresh loveliness, young, virginal, helpless, and adorable beyond expression. And I am inspired of a sudden, for as Richard raves, I see again what I have just seen upon the stage, my glance rests on the half-broken body of the man Tom, muttering feebly and shaking his torn head, while Spicer sponges his swollen face … and I pluck Richard by the sleeve, commanding him to be quiet.
“You wish to win this combat?” I ask. “You wish to save your fortune and your honour?”
He glares at me uncomprehending, his stupid red face bedewed with sweat, breathing like a bullock.
“If you do, you will cease these childish vapourings, and attend to me. I can put victory in your hand.”
He looks from me to the stricken fighter and back again. He shakes his head in bewilderment, and stoops close to me.
“Whut you sayin’? Damn yuh, Lucie, you hoaxin’ me? Whut yuh mean, Ah kin win? How, godammit? That black lummox is beat all to hell – look at him, blast yuh, ain’t nuthin’ goin’ git him up again!”
“I assure you, my dull cousin, that if you do as I instruct, he will undoubtedly get up again. I believe he will win, but if he should fail, your situation can be no worse than it is at this moment – ruined, bankrupt, dishonoured … my dear Richard, you might as well be dead.”
“Yo’ crazy!” he cries. “Why, yuh lousy French pimp, yo’ jes’ tormentin’ me, out o’ spite!” He sobs and tears his hair, and I turn from him in distaste.
“As you please. Farewell, M. Molineaux. Enjoy your degradation. I shall.”
He appears to be demented. He breaks again into insults, I sit aloof, and then at last he snarls at me:
“How, damn ye? Tell me! Whut I do, fo’ God’s sake! Whut yuh want, yuh dam’ snake? Lucie, in the name o’ Jesus, man, tell me!”
“You make a trade with me. You present to me, as a gift, this pretty toy for my amusement.” I indicate the girl, who whimpers in most appealing terror. “In return, I show you the secret.”
“She’s yo’s!” cries he. “Take the slut! Now, tell me – whut I do?”
I indicate his fallen champion. “Promise him his freedom.”
At this there is sensation. They stare, they roar with laughter, Blenkinsop shakes his head and turns away, those out of earshot shout questions, they press forward about us, Richard makes to speak, is dumb, and stands amazed. I watch as the thoughts pass across his crimson face, he beats his temples in hesitation, and then with a curse flings away and kneels by Tom. His words are lost in the uproar. I am content to have Mollybird within my reach. I do not caress her, or draw her to me. I sit at my ease, waiting.
There is commotion about the stage, and Tom is coming to his feet, with the man Spicer giving support, and I hear Richard’s voice raised in a different key of desperation.
“Free! Free, Ah tell yuh! Good boy, Tom – why, yuh ain’t beat at all! Yuh ma fightin’ nigra, sho’ ’nuff, an’ you be a free man, ’pon ma honour! Yuh heah me, gennelman, ma bounden word! Free, Tom, Ah vow!”
And more of the same, while Tom sways and paws at his bleeding wounds, and I wonder if the enjoyment of my new chattel is to be denied me after all. But I have seen what I have seen, for a brief moment, and Spicer has seen it, too, for he whispers urgently at Tom’s ear, clenching his left fist, and Tom shakes his head