“That’s no way for a barkeep to talk.”
“I say what I tink.”
“Say I’ve always wanted to ask you.... Do you mind telling me?... How did you get the name of Congo Jake?”
Congo laughed deep in his chest. “I dunno.... When I very leetle I first go to sea dey call me Congo because I have curly hair an dark like a nigger. Den when I work in America, on American ship an all zat, guy ask me How you feel Congo? and I say Jake ... so dey call me Congo Jake.”
“It’s some nickname.... I thought you’d followed the sea.”
“It’s a ’ard life.... I tell you Mr. ’Erf, there’s someting about me unlucky. When I first remember on a peniche, you know what I mean ... in canal, a big man not my fader beat me up every day. Then I run away and work on sailboats in and out of Bordeaux, you know?”
“I was there when I was a kid I think....”
“Sure.... You understand them things Mr. ’Erf. But a feller like you, good education, all ’at, you dont know what life is. When I was seventeen I come to New York ... no good. I tink of notten but raising Cain. Den I shipped out again and went everywhere to hell an gone. In Shanghai I learned spik American an tend bar. I come back to Frisco an got married. Now I want to be American. But unlucky again see? Before I marry zat girl her and me lived togedder a year sweet as pie, but when we get married no good. She make fun of me and call me Frenchy because I no spik American good and den she kick no out of the house an I tell her go to hell. Funny ting a man’s life.”
J’ai fait trois fois le tour du monde
Dans mes voyages....