F. Colburn (Francis Colburn) Adams
Chapter 70
earnestness of a true friend. Mr. Soloman can deport himself on all
occasions with becoming good nature. "It's got out, you see."
"What has got out?" interrupts George, maintaining a careless
indifference.
"Come now! none of that, old fellow."
"If I understood you--"
"That affair last night," pursues Mr. Soloman, his delicate fingers
wandering into his more delicately-combed beard. "It'll go hard with
you. He's a stubborn old cove, that Sleepyhorn; administers the law
as C‘sar was wont to. Yesterday he sent seven to the whipping-post;
to-day he hangs two 'niggers' and a white man. There is a
consolation in getting rid of the white. I say this because no one
loses a dollar by it."
George, continuing to masticate his bread, says it has nothing to do
with him. He may hang the town.
"If I can do you a bit of a good turn, why here's your man. But you
must not talk that way--you must not, George, I assure you!" Mr.
Soloman assumes great seriousness of countenance, and again, in a
friendly way, takes George by the hand. "That poignard, George, was
yours. It was picked up by myself when it fell from your hand--"
"My hand! my hand!" George quickly interposes, his countenance
paling, and his eyes wandering in excitement.
"Now don't attempt to disguise the matter, you know! Come out on the
square-own up! Jealousy plays the devil with one now and then. I
know-I have had a touch of it; had many a little love affair in my
time--"
George again interrupts by inquiring to what he is coming.
"To the attempt (the accommodation man assumes an air of sternness)
you made last night on the life of that unhappy girl. It is
needless," he adds, "to plead ignorance. The Judge has the poignard;
and what's more, there are four witnesses ready to testify. It'll go
hard with you, my boy." He shakes his head warningly.
"I swear before God and man I am as innocent as ignorant of the
charge. The poignard I confess is mine; but I had no part in the act
of last night, save to carry the prostrate girl-the girl I dearly
love-away. This I can prove by her own lips."