He looks in every direction for the beautiful slave, but she is not there--she has been sold! He goes to the trader and inquires, but he is too late, and he therefore returns to his hotel.
Having entered a military school in Paris when quite young, and soon after been sent with the French army to India, Antoine Devenant had never dabbled in matters of love.

He viewed all women from the same stand-point--respected them for their virtues, and often spoke of the goodness of heart of the sex, but never dreamed of taking to himself a wife.

The unequalled beauty of Clotelle had dazzled his eyes, and every look that she gave was a dagger that went to his heart.

He felt a shortness of breath, his heart palpitated, his head grew dizzy, and his limbs trembled; but he knew not its cause.

This was the first stage of "love at first sight." He who bows to the shrine of beauty when beckoned by this mysterious agent seldom regrets it.