"Welcome, mon Capitaine!" Hainaut exclaimed, stepping off the veranda to greet him and sweep an arm to encompass the house. "All is ready for you, in your grand new lodgings! Supper will be served just as soon as you wish, m'sieur!"

"As I expected, cher Jules," Choundas replied, almost registering pleasure for a glimmering moment, that just as quickly disappeared, "given your zeal. Though I have not yet seen inside… hein?" he came close to almost making a jest. "These dumb beasts are to be our house servants?" he concluded with a normal frown.

"Such as they are, m'sieur. Best of a poor lot," Hainaut told him, with a disparaging Gallic shrug. "I returned those that did not please to Governor Hugues, to make what use of them he will. Do a few more officials arrive in need of servants, he'll be reduced to the very dregs of the government supply, n'est-ce pas, mon Capitaine?" he concluded with a devious simper.

"Think I am Le Diable, do you?" Choundas asked the Blacks lined up for inspection, almost jovially, soft-voiced, as he clump-ticked to within a few feet of them, making them shrink back a pace. He removed his hat, baring florid ginger-red hair. "Ah, mais oui" he said with a shrug. Hat tucked under his good arm, he lifted the mask. "I am!" he thundered, making the Blacks whine, cringe, visibly shake, and almost piss their slop-trousers.

"I will be served with alacrity, with diligence, and with quiet! The one who raises his voice inside, who annoys me, he'll be flayed to his bones and fed to the sharks… alive! Do not make me take notice of you, comprendes? You've had your one curious look, and last winces! The next one of you who looks at me askance and even thinks that I am disgusting I will have boiled in hot tar and crucified, head-down!"

He let the mask drop back into place, shuffled its seating, and thrust his hat back onto his head.