"True! it's all true as sunshine," says Romescos; "we understand Mr.
Graspum inside and out. But ye ain't paid a dime to get me out of
any scrape. I was larned to nigger business afore I got into the
'tarnal thing; and when I just gits me eye on a nigger what nobody
don't own, I comes the sly over him-puts him through a course of
nigger diplomacy. The way he goes down to the Mississippi is a
caution to nigger property!"
He has enlisted their attention, all eyes are set upon him, every
voice calls out to know his process. He begs they will drink round;
they fill their glasses, and demand that he will continue the
interest of his story.
"My plans are worth a fortune to those who follow the business," he
says, giving his glass a twirl as he sets it upon the table, and
commences--
"Born 'cute, you see; trade comes natural. Afore a free 'un don't
know it, I has him bonded and tucked off for eight or nine hundred
dollars, slap-up, cash and all. And then, ye sees, it's worth
somethin' in knowin' who to sell such criturs too-so that the brute
don't git a chance to talk about it without getting his back
troubled. And then, it requires as much knowin' as a senator's got
just to fix things as smooth so nobody won't know it; and just like
ye can jingle the coin in yer pocket, for the nigger, what
everybody's wonderin' where he can be gone to. I tell ye what, it
takes some stameny to keep the price of a prime feller in your
pocket, and wonder along with the rest where the rascal can be.
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