A Not Uncommon1 Scene Slightly Changed
ROMESCOS, having withdrawn2 from the saloon while the excitement raged highest, may be seen, with several others, seated at a table in the upper room. They are in earnest consultation,--evidently devising some plan for carrying out a deep-laid plot.
"I have just called my friend, who will give us the particulars about the constitutionality of the thing. Here he is. Mr. Scranton, ye see, knows all about such intricacies; he is an editor! formerly3 from the North," one of the party is particular to explain, as he directs his conversation to Romescos. That gentleman of slave-cloth only knows the part they call the rascality4; he pays the gentlemen of the learned law profession to shuffle5 him out of all the legal intricacies that hang around his murderous deeds. He seems revolving6 the thing over in his mind at the moment, makes no reply. The gentleman turns to Mr. Scranton--the same methodical gentleman we have described with the good Mrs. Rosebrook--hopes he will be good enough to advise on the point in question. Mr. Scranton sits in all the dignity of his serious philosophy, quite unmoved; his mind is nearly distracted about all that is constitutionally right or constitutionally wrong. He is bound to his own ways of thinking, and would suffer martyrdom before his own conscientious7 scruples8 would allow him to acknowledge a right superior to that constitution. As for the humanity! that has nothing to do with the constitution, nothing to do with the laws of the land, nothing to do with popular government,--nothing to do with anything, and never should be taken into consideration when the point at issue involved negro property. The schedule of humanity would be a poor account at one's banker's. Mr. Scranton begins to smooth his face, which seems to elongate10 like a wet moon. "The question is, as I understand it, gentlemen, how far the law will give you a right to convict and sell the woman in the absence of papers and against the assertions of her owner, that she is free? Now, gentlemen, in the absence of my law books, and without the least scruple9 that I am legally right, for I'm seldom legally wrong, having been many years secretary to a senator in Congress who made it my particular duty to keep him posted on all points of the constitution--he drawls out with the serious complacency of a London beggar--I will just say that, whatever is legal must be just. Laws are always founded in justice--that's logical, you see,--and I always maintained it long 'afore I come south, long 'afore I knowed a thing about 'nigger law.' The point, thus far, you see, gentlemen, I've settled. Now then!" Mr. Scranton rests his elbow on the table, makes many legal gesticulations with his finger; he, however, disclaims11 all and every connection with the legal body, inasmuch as its members have sunk very much in the scale of character, and will require a deal of purifying ere he can call them brothers; but he knows a thing or two of constitutional law, and thus proceeds: "'Tain't a whit12 of matter about the woman, barring the dockerment's all right. You only want to prove that Marston bought her, that's all! As for the young scraps13, why--supposing they are his-that won't make a bit of difference; they are property for all that, subject to legal restraints. Your claim will be valid14 against it. You may have to play nicely over some intricate legal points. But, remember, nigger law is wonderfully elastic15; it requires superhuman wisdom to unravel16 its social and political intricacies, and when I view it through the horoscope of an indefinite future it makes my very head ache. You may, however, let your claim revert17 to another, and traverse the case until such time as you can procure18 reliable proof to convict." Mr. Scranton asserts this as the force of his legal and constitutional acumen19. He addresses himself to a mercantile-looking gentleman who sits at the opposite side of the table, attentively20 listening. He is one of several of Marston's creditors21, who sit at the table; they have attached certain property, and having some doubts of overthrowing22 Marston's plea of freedom, which he has intimated his intention to enter, have called in the valuable aid of Romescos. That indomitable individual, however, has more interests than one to serve, and is playing his cards with great "diplomatic skill." Indeed, he often remarks that his wonderful diplomatic skill would have been a great acquisition to the federal government, inasmuch as it would have facilitated all its Southern American projects.
The point in question at present, and which they must get over, in order to prove the property, is made more difficult by the doubt in which the origin of Clotilda has always been involved. Many are the surmises23 about her parentage-many are the assertions that she is not of negro extraction--she has no one feature indicating it--but no one can positively24 assert where she came from; in a word, no one dare! Hence is constituted the ground for fearing the issue of Marston's notice of freedom.
"Well! I'll own it puzzles my cunnin'; there's a way to get round it-there is-but deuced if 'tain't too much for my noddle," Romescos interposes, taking a little more whiskey, and seeming quite indifferent about the whole affair. "Suppose-Marston-comes-forward! yes, and brings somebody to swear as a kind a' sideways? That'll be a poser in asserting their freedom; it'll saddle you creditors with the burden of proof. There'll be the rub; and ye can't plead a right to enjoin25 the schedule he files in bankruptcy26 unless ye show how they were purchased by him. Perchance on some legal uncertainty27 it might be done,--by your producing proof that he had made an admission, anterior28 to the levy29, of their being purchased by him," Romescos continues, very wisely appealing to his learned and constitutional friend, Mr. Scranton, who yields his assent30 by adding that the remarks are very legal, and contain truths worth considering, inasmuch as they involve great principles of popular government. "I think our worthy31 friend has a clear idea of the points," Mr. Scranton concludes.
"One word more, gentlemen: a bit of advice what's worth a right smart price to ye all"--here he parenthesises by saying he has great sympathy for creditors in distress--"and ye must profit by it, for yer own interests. As the case now stands, it's a game for lawyers to play and get fat at. And, seein' how Marston's feelins are up in a sort of tender way, he feels strong about savin' them young 'uns; and ye, nor all the gentlemen of the lower place, can't make 'em property, if he plays his game right;--he knows how to! ye'll only make a fuss over the brutes32, while the lawyers bag all the game worth a dollar. Never see'd a nigger yet what raised a legal squall, that didn't get used up in law leakins; lawyers are sainted pocket masters! But--that kind a' stuff!--it takes a mighty33 deal of cross-cornered swearing to turn it into property. The only way ye can drive the peg34 in so the lawyers won't get hold on't, is by sellin' out to old Graspum-Norman, I mean--he does up such business as fine as a fiddle35. Make the best strike with him ye can--he's as tough as a knot on nigger trade!--and, if there's any making property out on 'em, he's just the tinker to do it."
They shake their heads doubtingly, as if questioning the policy of the advice. Mr. Scranton, however, to whom all looked with great solicitation36, speaks up, and affirms the advice to be the wiser course, as a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
"Oh, yes!" says Romescos, significantly, "you'll be safe then, and free from responsibility; Graspum's a great fellow to buy risks; but, seeing how he's not popular with juries, he may want to play behind the scenes, continue to prosecute37 the case in the name of the creditors,--that's all! Curious work, this making property out of doubtful women. Sell out to them what understands the curious of the things, clear yerselfs of the perplexin' risks--ye won't bag a bit of the game, you won't. Saddle it on Norman; he knows the philosophy of nigger trade, and can swim through a sea of legal perplexities in nigger cases." Mr. Romescos never gave more serious advice in his life; he finishes his whiskey, adjusts his hat slouchingly on his head, bids them good night; and, in return for their thanks, assures them that they are welcome. He withdraws; Mr. Scranton, after a time, gets very muddled38; so much so, that, when daylight appears, he finds, to his utter astonishment39, he has enjoyed a sweet sleep on the floor, some of his quizzical friends having disfigured his face very much after the fashion of a clown's. He modestly, and mechanically, picks up his lethargic40 body, views his constitutional self in the glass, and is much horrified41, much disgusted with those who perpetrated the freak.
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1
uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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2
withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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3
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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4
rascality
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| 流氓性，流氓集团 | |
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5
shuffle
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| n.拖著脚走，洗纸牌；v.拖曳，慢吞吞地走 | |
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6
revolving
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| adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想 | |
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7
conscientious
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| adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的 | |
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8
scruples
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| n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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9
scruple
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| n./v.顾忌，迟疑 | |
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10
elongate
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| v.拉长，伸长，延长 | |
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11
disclaims
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| v.否认( disclaim的第三人称单数 ) | |
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12
whit
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| n.一点，丝毫 | |
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13
scraps
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| 油渣 | |
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14
valid
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| adj.有确实根据的；有效的；正当的，合法的 | |
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15
elastic
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| n.橡皮圈，松紧带；adj.有弹性的；灵活的 | |
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16
unravel
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| v.弄清楚（秘密）；拆开，解开，松开 | |
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17
revert
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| v.恢复，复归，回到 | |
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18
procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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19
acumen
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| n.敏锐，聪明 | |
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attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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creditors
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| n.债权人，债主( creditor的名词复数 ) | |
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22
overthrowing
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| v.打倒，推翻( overthrow的现在分词 )；使终止 | |
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23
surmises
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| v.臆测，推断( surmise的第三人称单数 )；揣测；猜想 | |
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24
positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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25
enjoin
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| v.命令；吩咐；禁止 | |
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26
bankruptcy
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| n.破产；无偿付能力 | |
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27
uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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anterior
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| adj.较早的；在前的 | |
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29
levy
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| n.征收税或其他款项，征收额 | |
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30
assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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31
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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32
brutes
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| 兽( brute的名词复数 )； 畜生； 残酷无情的人； 兽性 | |
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33
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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34
peg
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| n.木栓，木钉；vt.用木钉钉，用短桩固定 | |
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35
fiddle
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| n.小提琴；vi.拉提琴；不停拨弄，乱动 | |
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36
solicitation
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| n.诱惑；揽货；恳切地要求；游说 | |
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37
prosecute
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| vt.告发；进行；vi.告发，起诉，作检察官 | |
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38
muddled
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| adj.混乱的；糊涂的；头脑昏昏然的v.弄乱，弄糟( muddle的过去式)；使糊涂；对付，混日子 | |
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39
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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40
lethargic
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| adj.昏睡的，懒洋洋的 | |
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41
horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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