Дванадцять років рабства

           Whitherhehasnowgone,Iregrettobeobligedtosay,isunknowntome. HegathereduphiseffectsanddepartedquietlyfromMarksvillethedaybeforeIdid,thesuspicionsofhisinstrumentalityinprocuringmyliberationrenderingsuchastepnecessary. Forthecommissionofajustandrighteousacthewouldundoubtedlyhavesuffereddeath,hadheremainedwithinreachoftheslave-whippingtribeonBayouBœuf. 

           Oneday,whileworkingonthenewhouse,BassandEppsbecameengagedinacontroversy,towhich,aswillbereadilysupposed,Ilistenedwithabsorbinginterest.TheywerediscussingthesubjectofSlavery. 

           "ItellyouwhatitisEpps,"saidBass,"it’sallwrong—allwrong,sir—there’snojusticenorrighteousnessinit. Iwouldn’townaslaveifIwasrichasCrœsus,whichIamnot,asisperfectlywellunderstood,moreparticularlyamongmycreditors. There’sanotherhumbug—thecreditsystem—humbug,sir;nocredit—nodebt. Creditleadsamanintotemptation. Cashdownistheonlythingthatwilldeliverhimfromevil. ButthisquestionofSlavery;whatrighthaveyoutoyourniggerswhenyoucomedowntothepoint?" 

           "Whatright!"saidEpps,laughing;"why,Ibought’em,andpaidfor’em." 

           "Ofcourseyoudid;thelawsaysyouhavetherighttoholdanigger,butbeggingthelaw’spardon,itlies. Yes,Epps,whenthelawsaysthatit’saliar,andthetruthisnotinit.