Дванадцять років рабства

           WeleftthecarriageatBaltimore,andenteringthecars,proceededtoWashington,atwhichplacewearrivedjustatnightfall,theeveningprevioustothefuneralofGeneralHarrison,andstoppedatGadsby’sHotel,onPennsylvaniaAvenue. 

           Aftersuppertheycalledmetotheirapartments,andpaidmeforty-threedollars,asumgreaterthanmywagesamountedto,whichactofgenerositywasinconsequence,theysaid,oftheirnothavingexhibitedasoftenastheyhadgivenmetoanticipate,duringourtripfromSaratoga. TheymoreoverinformedmethatithadbeentheintentionofthecircuscompanytoleaveWashingtonthenextmorning,butthatonaccountofthefuneral,theyhadconcludedtoremainanotherday. Theywerethen,astheyhadbeenfromthetimeofourfirstmeeting,extremelykind. Noopportunitywasomittedofaddressingmeinthelanguageofapprobation;while,ontheotherhand,Iwascertainlymuchprepossessedintheirfavor. Igavethemmyconfidencewithoutreserve,andwouldfreelyhavetrustedthemtoalmostanyextent. Theirconstantconversationandmannertowardsme—theirforesightinsuggestingtheideaoffreepapers,andahundredotherlittleacts,unnecessarytoberepeated—allindicatedthattheywerefriendsindeed,sincerelysolicitousformywelfare. Iknownotbuttheywere. IknownotbuttheywereinnocentofthegreatwickednessofwhichInowbelievethemguilty. Whethertheywereaccessorytomymisfortunes—subtleandinhumanmonstersintheshapeofmen—designedlyluringmeawayfromhomeandfamily,andliberty,forthesakeofgold—thosewhoreadthesepageswillhavethesamemeansofdeterminingasmyself.