once again i was questioned about my journey , about life in amsterdam , and the present state of things in europe , which related to the importation of coffee and indigo , and told that i should become very weary of life in the plantations , for nobody did anything but eat and drink and seek pleasure , and so forth and so on , until suddenly charlotte broke off gently and gave the order to the black slave , reginald , that he should go and fetch the old man and bring him down 'he has been talking to me all day , ' she said quietly to the others , with a vague look of triumph 'indeed , a miracle ! '