Newton perceived and acknowledged this, and, comparing the condition of the people at Lieu Desire with that of most of the peasantry of Europe, was unwillingly obliged to confess that the former were in every respect the more fortunate and the more happy of the two.
One morning, soon after Newton had breakfasted with M.de Fontanges, and had been summoned to the boudoir, a letter was brought in.

It was from the governor to M.de Fontanges, stating that he had heard with great surprise that M.de Fontanges concealed an English prisoner in his house, and desiring that he might be immediately sent up to head-quarters.

That there might be no delay or refusal, a corporal, accompanied by two file of men, brought down the intimation to the plantation.
Newton was in the very middle of a long story, Madame de Fontanges on the ottoman, and her attendants collected round her, seated on the floor--even Cupidon had advanced from his corner to within half-distance, his mouth and eyes wide open, when M.de Fontanges entered the boudoir, with anxiety and chagrin expressed in his countenance.
"Qu'est-ce qu'il y a, mon ami ?" said Madame de Fontanges, rising hastily, and running up to her husband.
M.de Fontanges answered by putting the governor's letter into his wife's hands.
"Ah! les barbares!" cried Madame de Fontanges; "est-il possible?
Pauvre Monsieur Nutong! On l'amene au cachot." "Au cachot!" cried all the coloured girls at a breath and bursting into tears--"Oh, ciel!" M.de Fontanges then explained to Newton the order which he had received.

Newton replied that he had had no right to expect otherwise on his first landing on the island; that he had incurred a heavy debt of gratitude to them for having preserved him so long from a prison; and that the remembrance of their kindness would tend to beguile the tedious hours of captivity (from which it may appear that Newton, in point of expressing himself, was half a Frenchman already).

He then kissed the hand of Madame de Fontanges, tried to console the little slave girls, who were all _au desespoir_, patted Cupidon on the head, by way of farewell, and quitted the boudoir, in which he had passed so many happy hours.