"Where was you?"
"In de grove, eatin' soup."
"Where was you when the lie passed?"
"On my way to Doctor Hissong."
"State to the jury what you know about this case."
"Yassir, genelmun, hit remine me uv de time when Kernel Poindexter an' Mistah Fontaine had a quarrel ovah a fox-chase down in Baton-Rouge—"
"Confine yourself to the case," said Budlong.
"Yassir, thankee, Jedge, en Kernel Poindexter he 'low dat his dawg, Watercress wuz in de lead, full yelp at de crossin' 'buv de bayou—"
"I don't care nothin' about that fox-chase," shouted Budlong, "You tell the court what you know about this case."
"Yassir, I'm tryin' to, Marse Jim—en Mistah Brandon Fontaine, you know, he want one er de ole quality in dat naberhood, he sorter drap in dar, en pick up a lot er money by sorter tradin' en watchin' 'roun' de edges, en a kine uv cotton swapper, en wo' fine duds en' de bigges' watch-chain yo' ever see—"