"Well, 'casionally, I 'spect I did, sah. Bery common ting for brudders to talk of one anudder," said Jeff, rubbing away on the lamp he held with redoubled earnestness.
"Did Mr. Wilkins leave the store, that you know of, after it was closed?"
"Well, I bleeb he did, sah! He couldn't a come in widout he'd been out, and I know one ob my toes got pinched in de crack ob de door by his coming in when 'twas most mornin'."
"My brother was not with him then, was he?"
"Well, I had my eyes shut, sah! and it was too dark to see if I'd a had 'em open. 'Alus de darkest hour 'fore day,' you know, sah."
"You don't know whether my brother asked Mr. Wilkins to go out, or not, I suppose?"
"Really, couldn't tell anyting 'bout it, sah," said Jeff, mounting on a wooden stool, and taking down another lamp carefully. As he gained the floor his eyes met Arthur's face.
"Bless de Lord, young massa, how came you by dat offal bump 'long side ob your head?"
Arthur drew his hat hastily over his brow, and turned away with a dissatisfied air, without giving any reply.