“You're surprising me now,” I said. “What's it all about?”
“Oh, him and Trampas.”
“What? Nothing surely happened yet?” I was as curious as Scipio had been.
“No, not yet. But there will.”
“Great Heavens, man! when?”
“Just as soon as Trampas makes the first move,” Scipio replied easily.
I became dignified. Scipio had evidently been told things by the Virginian.
“Yes, I up and asked him plumb out,” Scipio answered. “I was liftin' his trunk in at the door, and I couldn't stand it no longer, and I asked him plumb out. 'Yu've sure got Trampas where yu' want him.' That's what I said. And he up and answered and told me. So I know.” At this point Scipio stopped; I was not to know.
“I had no idea,” I said, “that your system held so much meanness.”
“Oh, it ain't meanness!” And he laughed ecstatically.