"How many did you try to sell him?"
"I made no attempt to sell him any books; I knew he couldn't read. I merely asked him to give me some information."
Major Jimmy Bass scowled dreadfully; but Mr. Jack Walthall smiled pleasantly, and turned to the negro.
"Jake! do you know this man?"
"I seed 'im, Marse Jack; I des seed 'im; dat's all I know 'bout 'im."
"What were you doing sasshaying around in his room last night?"
Jake scratched his head, dropped his eyes, and shuffled about on the floor with his feet. All eyes were turned on him. He made so long a pause that Alvin Cozart remarked in his drawling tone:
"Jack, hadn't we better take this nigger over to the calaboose?"
"Not yet," said Mr. Walthall pleasantly. "If I have to take him over there I'll not bring him back in a hurry."
"I wuz des up in his room kaze he tole me fer ter come back en see 'im. Name er God, Marse Jack, w'at ail' you all w'ite folks now?"