“Ah ’low she ’bout ninety-eight in de shade,” Pro responded.
“Ah doan’ ’low dat yoh ’tends to bet enuff foh to cover all de han’-books in Noo ’Leans?” Clarence inquired flatteringly.
“Don’t ’low as Ah can,” said Pro regretfully. “You ’low ef Ah tell yoh wha’ hoss Mist’ Jim done name’, kin yoh wait till Ah gits my bets down, so’s not influence de odds?”
“Ah ’low dat Ah kin. Yoh ’low dat tip look good?”
“Look good?” Pro’s voice quivered with outraged indignation. “Yoh ’low Mist’ Jim done tellygraft a niggah lessen it good?”
“Nevah kin tell,” commented Mr. Fox cynically.
Prosias hesitated. His mind was in panic for fear of losing the opportunity to secure working capital, yet the situation was embarrassing. He found it difficult to approach a business proposition without revealing the fact that he was embarrassed financially.
“Reckon yoh do the right thing if Ah tell yoh de name ob de hoss?” he said tentatively.
“Yoh knows me, Pro. Ah always does de right thing, doan’ Ah?”
“Dat yoh repitation, Clarence,” said Pro, vaguely conscious of the fact that he knew nothing of Clarence’s reputation.