" rejoined Romescos, taking
up his hat, and placing it carelessly on his head, as if to assure
Graspum that he is no better than the rest.
"Comprehend me, comprehend me, gentlemen! There can, and must be,
dignity in nigger trading; it can be made as honourable as any other
branch of business. For there is an intricacy about our business
requiring more dignity and ability than general folks know. You
fellers couldn't carry out the schemes, run the law down, keep your
finger on people's opinion, and them sort o' things, if I didn't
take a position in society what 'ud ensure puttin' ye straight
through. South's the place where position's worth somethin'; and
then, when we acts independent, and don't look as if we cared two
toss-ups, ah!"
"I wonder you don't set up a dignity shop, and go to selling the
article;-might have it manufactured to sell down south."
"Ah, Romescos," continued Graspum, "you may play the fool; but you
must play it wisely to make it profitable. Here, position puts law
at defiance!-here it puts croakers over humanity to rest-here, when
it has money, it makes lawyers talk round the points, get fat among
themselves, fills the old judge's head with anything; so that he
laughs and thinks he don't know nothin'. Listen to what I'm goin' to
say, because you'll all make somethin' out on't. I've just got the
dignity to do all; and with the coin to back her up, can safe every
chance. When you fellers get into a snarl running off a white 'un,
or a free nigger, I has to bring out the big talk to make it seem
how you didn't understand the thing.
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