“Mebbe more, mebbe less.”

“Where were you during that visit?”

“Feedin’ my game pullets in the backyard.”

“Did you hear any part of the conversation between the prisoner and Gen’l Darrington?”

“No, sir!  I’m above the meanness of eavesdrapping.”

“How did you learn that she was the granddaughter of Gen’l Darrington?”

“Miss Angerline, the white ’oman what mends and sews, come to the back piazer, and beckoned me to run there.  She said ther must be a ‘high ole fracas’, them was her words, agoin’ on in Marster’s room, for he was cussin’ and swearin’, and his granddaughter was jawing back very vicious.  Sez I, ‘Who’?  Sez she, ’His granddaughter; that is Ellice’s chile’.  Sez I, ‘How do you know so much’?  Sez she, ’I was darning them liberry curtains, and I couldn’t help hearing the wrangle’.  Sez I, ’You picked a oncommon handy time to tackle them curtains; they must be mighty good to cure the ear-itch’.  She axed me if I didn’t see the family favor in the ’oman’s face; and I tole her no, but I would see for myself.  Sez she, to me, ’No yow won’t, for the Gen’l is in a tearing rage, and he’s done drove her out, and kicked and slammed the doors.  She’s gone.’”

“Then you did not see her?”

“I went to the front piazer, and I seen her far down the lawn, but Marster rung his bell so savage, I had to run back to him.”

“Did he tell you the prisoner was his granddaughter?”

“No, sir.”

“Did you mention the fact to him?”

“I wouldn’t ’a dared to meddle with his fambly bizness!”

“He appeared very angry and excited?”

“He ’peard to want some ole Conyyac what was in the sideboard, and I brung the bottle to him.”

“Do you remember whether his vault in the wall was open, when you answered the bell?”

“I didn’t notice it.”

“Where did you sleep that night?”

“On a pallet in the middle passage, nigh the star steps.”

“Was that your usual custom?”

“No, sir.  But the boy what had been sleepin’ in the house while ole Marster was sick, had gone to set up with his daddy’s corpse, and I tuck his place.”

“Did you hear any unusual noise during the night?”

“Only the squalling of the pea-fowul what was oncommon oneasy, and the thunder that was ear-splitting.  One clap was so tremenjous it raised me plum off’en the pallet, and jarred me to my backbone, as if a cannon had gone off close by.”

“Now, Bedney, state carefully all the circumstances under which you found your master the next morning; and remember you are on your oath, to speak the truth, and all the truth.”

“He was a early riser, and always wanted his shavin’ water promp’.  When his bell didn’t ring, I thought the storm had kep’ him awake, and he was having a mornin’ nap, to make up for lost time.  The clock had struck eight, and the cook said as how the steak and chops was as dry as a bone from waitin’, and so I got the water and went to Marster’s door.  It was shet tight, and I knocked easy.  He never answered; so I knocked louder; and thinkin’ somethin’ was shorely wrong, I opened the door—­”