Двенадцать лет рабства

           Ifyouknowhim,Ibegyoutoinformmefranklywhereheis,andIassureyouthesourceofanyinformationyoumaygivemeshallnotbedivulged,ifyoudesireitnottobe." 

           AlongtimeBasslookedhisnewacquaintancesteadilyintheeyes,withoutopeninghislips. Heseemedtobedoubtinginhisownmindiftherewasnotanattempttopracticesomedeceptionuponhim. Finallyhesaid,deliberately— 

           "Ihavedonenothingtobeashamedof. Iamthemanwhowrotetheletter. IfyouhavecometorescueSolomonNorthup,Iamgladtoseeyou." 

           "Whendidyoulastseehim,andwhereishe?"Northupinquired. 

           "IlastsawhimChristmas,aweekagoto-day. HeistheslaveofEdwinEpps,aplanteronBayouBœuf,nearHolmesville. HeisnotknownasSolomonNorthup;heiscalledPlatt." 

           Thesecretwasout—themysterywasunraveled. Throughthethick,blackcloud,amidwhosedarkanddismalshadowsIhadwalkedtwelveyears,brokethestarthatwastolightmebacktoliberty. Allmistrustandhesitationweresoonthrownaside,andthetwomenconversedlongandfreelyuponthesubjectuppermostintheirthoughts. Bassexpressedtheinteresthehadtakeninmybehalf—hisintentionofgoingnorthintheSpring,anddeclaringthathehadresolvedtoaccomplishmyemancipation,ifitwereinhispower. Hedescribedthecommencementandprogressofhisacquaintancewithme,andlistenedwitheagercuriositytotheaccountgivenhimofmyfamily,andthehistoryofmyearlylife.