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the new school； perhaps。 Well； sir； I've read your speech； I don't belong to
your partymine died ten years ago but I congratulate you。 George！
Confound it where's that boy gone？〃
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The negro indicated by this youthful title； although he must have been
ten years older than his master； after a hurried shuffling in the sitting…room
eventually appeared at the door。
〃George； champagne and materials for cocktails for the gentleman。
The BEST； you understand。 No new…fangled notions from that new
barkeeper。〃
Paul； who thought he observed a troubled blinking in George's eyelid；
and referred it to a fear of possible excitement for his patient； here begged
his host not to trouble himselfthat he seldom took anything in the
morning。
〃Possibly not； sir； possibly not；〃 returned the colonel； hastily。 〃I know
the new ideas are prohibitive； and some other blank thing； but you're safe
here from your constituents； and by gad； sir； I shan't force you to take it！
It's MY custom； Hathawayan old one played out； perhaps； like all the
others； but a custom nevertheless； and I'm only surprised that George； who
knows it； should have forgotten it。〃
〃Fack is； Marse Harry；〃 said George； with feverish apology； 〃it bin
gone 'scaped my mind dis mo'nin' in de prerogation ob business； but I'm
goin' now； shuah！〃 and he disappeared。
〃A good boy； sir； but beginning to be contaminated。 Brought him here
from Nashville over ten years ago。 Eight years ago they proved to him that
he was no longer a slave； and made him dd unhappy until I promised
him it should make no difference to him and he could stay。 I had to send
for his wife and childof course； a dead loss of eighteen hundred dollars
when they set foot in the Statebut I'm blanked if he isn't just as miserable
with them here； for he has to take two hours in the morning and three in
the afternoon every day to be with 'em。 I tried to get him to take his family
to the mines and make his fortune； like those fellows they call bankers and
operators and stockbrokers nowadays； or to go to Oregon where they'll
make him some kind of a mayor or sheriff but he won't。 He collects my
rents on some little property I have left； and pays my bills； sir； and； if this
blank civilization would only leave him alone； he'd be a good enough
boy。〃
Paul couldn't help thinking that the rents George collected were
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somewhat inconsistent with those he was evidently mending when he
arrived； but at that moment the jingle of glasses was heard in the sitting…
room； and the old negro reappeared at the door。 Drawing himself up with
ceremonious courtesy； he addressed Paul。 〃Wo'd yo' mind； sah； taking a
glance at de wine for yo' choice？〃 Paul rose； and followed him into the
sitting…room； when George carefully closed the door。 To his surprise
Hathaway beheld a tray with two glasses of whiskey and bitters； but no
wine。 〃Skuse me； sah；〃 said the old man with dignified apology； 〃but de
Kernel won't have any but de best champagne for hono'ble gemmen like
yo'self； and I'se despaired to say it can't be got in de house or de subburbs。
De best champagne dat we gives visitors is de Widder Glencoe。 Wo'd yo'
mind； sah； for de sake o' not 'xcitin' de Kernel wid triflin' culinary matter；
to say dat yo' don' take but de one brand？〃
〃Certainly；〃 said Paul； smiling。 〃I really don't care for anything so
early；〃 then； returning to the bedroom； he said carelessly； 〃You'll excuse
me taking the liberty； colonel； of sending away the champagne and
contenting myself with whiskey。 Even the best brand the Widow
Cliquot〃with a glance at the gratified George〃I find rather trying so
early in the morning。〃
〃As you please； Hathaway；〃 said the colonel； somewhat stiffly。 〃I dare
say there's a new fashion in drinks now； and a gentleman's stomach is a
thing of the past。 Then； I suppose； we can spare the boy； as this is his time
for going home。 Put that tin box with the Trust papers on the bed； George；
and Mr。 Hathaway will excuse your waiting。〃 As the old servant made an
exaggerated obeisance to each； Paul remarked； as the door closed upon
him； 〃George certainly keeps his style； colonel； in the face of the progress
you deplore。〃
〃He was always a 'dandy nigger；'〃 returned Pendleton； his face slightly
relaxing as he glanced after his grizzled henchman； 〃but his exaggeration
of courtesy is a blank sight more natural and manly than the exaggeration
of discourtesy which your superior civilized 'helps' think is self…respect。
The excuse of servitude of any kind is its spontaneity and affection。 When
you know a man hates you and serves you from interest； you know he's a
cur and you're a tyrant。 It's your blank progress that's made menial service
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degrading by teaching men to avoid it。 Why； sir； when I first arrived here；
Jack Hammersley and myself took turns as cook to the party。 I didn't
consider myself any the worse master for it。 But enough of this。〃 He
paused； and； raising himself on his elbow； gazed for some seconds half
cautiously； half doubtfully； upon his companion。 〃I've got something to tell
you； Hathaway；〃 he said； slowly。 〃You've had an easy time with this Trust；
your share of the work hasn't worried you； kept you awake nights； or
interfered with your career。 I understand perfectly；〃 he continued； in reply
to Hathaway's deprecating gesture。 〃I accepted to act as your proxy； and I
HAVE。 I'm not complaining。 But it is time that you should know what I've
done； and what you may still have to do。 Here is the record。 On the day
after that interview in the Mayor's office； the El Dorado Bank； of which I
was； and still am； president； received seventy…five thousand dollars in trust
from Mrs。 Howard。 Two years afterwards； on that same day； the bank had；
by lucky speculations； increased that sum to the credit of the trust one
hundred and fifty thousand dollars； or double the original capital。 In the
following year the bank suspended payment。〃