“You will?” Uncle William moistened his lips with his tongue. “I’ll hev to go tell Andy that,” he said.
“You’ll take it?”
“Lord, no, I couldn’t take it! Nor twenty thousand; so don’t you go offerin’ it to me. I should like to tell Andy you was offerin’ it, though.”
The man laughed out. “I was thinking of it,” he said.
Uncle William leaned forward, looking at him. “What are you so set on buyin’ my place for? It’s a God-forsaken spot—most folks would call it. Andy does.”
“I like it,” said the man.
“So do I,” said Uncle William.
The Frenchman waited a minute. Then he turned a little, looking into Uncle William’s face. “Did you ever see be before?” he asked slowly.
Uncle William returned the look in full measure. “You ain’t forgot I saw you in New York—‘long in the spring?”
“I don’t mean that. I mean before—years ago.” The man’s voice was mellow.