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me a gen'rous onner … say it again, if you please … Honorarium? Suh, if that is some noo kind of European perversion, I'd be 'bliged if you'd tell me what it means, in simple American …
Payment
? For tellin' you 'bout Tom Molineaux? Now, that I cannot believe! See here, my friend, if you have been overhearin' loose talk an' have called 'pon me for some pu'pose you are too bashful to confide straight out … well, I 'ppreciatethe flatterin' attention, but madam is not inclined these days, an' if I was, believe me, you couldn't afford it.
    No, suh. I am not in need of capital, as you can see. Yonder coffee service is English sterlin' silver, my gown is pure China silk, f'm Paris, France – well, I thank you for the charmin' compliment – these fine furnishin's an' pictures an' all is bought an' paid for, as is the house; my maid, cook, an' footman ain't owed one red cent in wages, an' there is a drivin' carriage,
with
canopy, an' two horses in my stable, which you are kin'ly welcome to view – on your way out. Unless you choose to state your
real
business. Jus' so we und'stand one another.
    My stars! You were
not
bammin' jus' now? You truly want to know 'bout that Tom? Well, that does beat all! Whatever for? I'd not ha' thought he was o' that much account. No one ever cared for him, hardly …'cept me, an' I knew no better. He made a name in
England
? Now, you do s'prise me. Oh, prize-fightin' … uh-huh, I guess he was good at that, if little besides. Well, it makes no neverminds what he did in England. He surely did hurt enough in America, him an' that … No, I b'lieve I do not care to remember.
    My recollections are of the first impo'tance to you? Well, now, I can't think why they should be … oh, fo'give me if I smile, only I wonder do you know 'zackly what you are askin'? My recollections? La-la! My good suh, they are not what you are 'ccustomed to read in the ladies' journals. You 'ppreciate that, you say? Well, I 'ppreciate your candour,
I
mus' say! No, do not apologise. Like I said, we und'stand each other.
    Well, now … I may not
care
to remember – but I do. 'Tis not the kind of thing a woman forgets, try how she may. Still, 'twill do no harm to tell now, I guess. I got over that mis'ry a long time ago, even if it did break my heart in pieces at the time … I had a heart in those days. So long ago … at Amplefo'th … when I was young in the sunshine … Oh, damn him! An' damn that worm de la Guise! You wouldn't b'lieve I could still feel the pain! Well, I don't –'til some 'quisitive body plagues me to think on it!
    I beg your pardon, suh. I fo'get myself. Quite in'scusable, what must you think? You have called 'pon me to make an inquiry, in genteel style, an' my outbu'st was most unbecomin'. Would you havethe kindness to pour me a glass of sherry f'm the cellarette yonder – an' kindly help yourself to refreshment. There is French brandy, an' aquavit', an' such. Jus' the smallest trifle … I thank you. Now, let me collect my thoughts.
    H'm, my recollections. Well, you shall have 'em plain, an' if they offend your delicate feelin's … why, you shouldn't ha' come.
    First thing, Tom Molineaux was a born fool. Strong in the arm, weak in the head, denser'n Mississippi mud. Even when I was little, I could see he had no mo' sense'n an ox. He was willin' an' kin'ly enough, an' I guess I took to him 'cos he took to me. Used to follow me 'round like a great hound puppy, f'm as early as I can remember. He was older'n me, but we used to play together, an' I had to show him how, at our games an' ev'ythin'. The older slave-childer used to make game of him, 'til he got bigger – an' then the boys took no more liberties with him, you bet, for he was prodigious strong an' could whip 'em three, four at a time. Yes, suh, he was one big likely nigger buck, an' ripe as a stud bull! Oh, my, I trust you will pardon the 'spression. Recollectin', I fall back into the common way o' speech. But that is what he was.
    'Twas