The negro chuckled joyfully:
"Yassah—yassah! I knowed yer warn't gwine back on me, Mister Tom." He edged close and dropped his voice to the oiliest whisper: "You'll say dat good word now to Miss Cleo right away, sah?"
The boy shook his head:
"The only thing I'll agree to do, Andy, is to stand by and see you commit suicide. If it's any comfort to you, I'll tell you that she'll kill you."
"Nasah! Don't yer believe it. Ef I kin des escape dat fat 'oman wid my life before she gits me—now dat you'se on my side I kin read my titles clar——"
"Oh, you can get rid of Minerva all right!"
"For de Lord sake, des tell me how!"
Tom bent toward him and spoke in low tones:
"All you've got to do if Minerva gets you in a tight place is to confess your real love and ask her to help you out as a friend."
Andy looked puzzled a moment and then a light broke over his dusky face: