The clerk called the case of the Commonwealth versus Hitch Diamond.
“We are ready, your honor,” Dan Davazec said in his clear voice.
“Where is your counsel, Hitch Diamond?” Judge Haddan asked.
“I ain’t got none, boss,” Hitch answered.
“Do you wish me to assign you counsel?” Haddan inquired.
Hitch stood up and scratched his woolly head.
“Boss,” he said, in a sad tone, “one time when yo’ leetle gal got sick an’ you lived out on yo’ plantation in de country, I done you a leetle favor. Does you remember, boss?”
Haddan looked straight at Hitch Diamond while his nervous fingers drummed upon the arms of his chair. He seemed not to have heard what Hitch had said.
“Do you wish me to assign you counsel?” he asked again.
“Boss,” Hitch continued, “when yo’ little gal got sick, de water had done riz up an’ de Dorfoche Bayou wus seben miles wide—an’ you axed me to go atter de dorctor. I waded an’ swum dat bayou—I got acrost dat seben mile of water—I fotch de dorctor—an’ yo’ little gal got well. Boss, you tole me den, dat ef I ever needed any he’p, you would he’p me at any cost—an’ boss, befo’ Gawd, now is yo time!”