Двенадцать лет рабства

           "Hav’ntyouaskedthatfellow,Armsby,tomailaletterforyouatMarksville?" 

           "Why,Lord,master,Ineverspokethreewordstohiminallmylife. Idon’tknowwhatyoumean." 

           "Well,"hecontinued,"Armsbytoldmeto-daythedevilwasamongmyniggers; thatIhadonethatneededclosewatchingorhewouldrunaway; andwhenIaxedhimwhy,hesaidyoucomeovertoShaw’s,andwakedhimupinthenight,andwantedhimtocarryalettertoMarksville. Whathaveyougottosaytothat,ha?" 

           "AllI’vegottosay,master,"Ireplied,"is,thereisnotruthinit. HowcouldIwritealetterwithoutanyinkorpaper? ThereisnobodyIwanttowriteto,’causeIhaintgotnofriendslivingasIknowof. ThatArmsbyisalying,drunkenfellow,theysay,andnobodybelieveshimanyway. YouknowIalwaystellthetruth,andthatInevergoofftheplantationwithoutapass. Now,master,IcanseewhatthatArmsbyisafter,plainenough. Did’nthewantyoutohirehimforanoverseer?" 

           "Yes,hewantedmetohirehim,"answeredEpps. 

           "That’sit,"saidI,"hewantstomakeyoubelievewe’reallgoingtorunaway,andthenhethinksyou’llhireanoverseertowatchus. Hejustmadethatstoryoutofwholecloth,’causehewantstogetasituation. It’sallalie,master,youmaydependon’t." 

           Eppsmusedawhile,evidentlyimpressedwiththeplausibilityofmytheory,andexclaimed,