He is one of several of Marston's creditors, who sit at
the table; they have attached certain property, and having some
doubts of overthrowing Marston's plea of freedom, which he has
intimated his intention to enter, have called in the valuable aid of
Romescos. That indomitable individual, however, has more interests
than one to serve, and is playing his cards with great "diplomatic
skill." Indeed, he often remarks that his wonderful diplomatic skill
would have been a great acquisition to the federal government,
inasmuch as it would have facilitated all its Southern American
projects.
The point in question at present, and which they must get over, in
order to prove the property, is made more difficult by the doubt in
which the origin of Clotilda has always been involved. Many are the
surmises about her parentage-many are the assertions that she is not
of negro extraction--she has no one feature indicating it--but no one
can positively assert where she came from; in a word, no one dare!
Hence is constituted the ground for fearing the issue of Marston's
notice of freedom.
"Well! I'll own it puzzles my cunnin'; there's a way to get round
it-there is-but deuced if 'tain't too much for my noddle," Romescos
interposes, taking a little more whiskey, and seeming quite
indifferent about the whole affair. "Suppose-Marston-comes-forward!
yes, and brings somebody to swear as a kind a' sideways? That'll be
a poser in asserting their freedom; it'll saddle you creditors with
the burden of proof.
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