“Dunno, sah. Deir eyes dey hab closed, lest at any time dey should see wid deir eyes, and hear wid deir ears——”
“Do the whole ten of you sleep in that little hut?”
“No, sah, I sleep on de graound aoutside. Foxes hab holes——”
“Now, Mr. Hamilton, can you look me in the face and tell me that the bread that was given you was really eaten by yourself, and two daughters, and seven grandchildren?”
“Yes, sah. To tell you de troot, sah, dey wasn’t ezackly blood-grandchildren. All men are brudders, we are told, sah, and derefore grandchildren, an’ daughters, an’ nieces too, sah. All de pickneys call me Daddy Hamilton. Suffer de little children to come unto me, saith de Lawd, so I suffer dem gladly.”
“Yes, but do you ever charge anything for suffering them? Have you ever sold any of the bread that was given you?”
“Well, sah, a man mus’ live.”
“Yes, but the bread was given you to live on.”
“Well, sah, money is better dan bread. You ask for bread and dey give you a stone.”
“Not in this case. The bread was excellent. Do you know, Mr. Hamilton, I believe you are liable to be prosecuted for obtaining Mr. Tring’s gift under false pretences.”