SCENE II
[Street in New Orleans. Enter George Shelby.]
GEORGE:
At length my mission of mercy is nearly finished, I have reached
my journey’s end. I have now but to find the house of Mr. St. Clare, re-purchase
old Uncle Tom, and convey him back to his wife and children, in old Kentucky.
Some one approaches; he may, perhaps, be able to give me the information I re-
quire. I will accost him. [(Enter Marks.)]
Pray, sir, can you tell me where Mr. St.
Clare dwells?
MARKS:
Where I don’t hink you’ll be in a hurry to seek him.
GEORGE:
And where is that?
MARKS:
In the grave!
GEORGE:
Stay, sir! you may be able to give me some information concern-
ing Mr. St. Clare.
MARKS:
I beg pardon, sir, I am a lawyer; I can’t afford to give anything
GEORGE:
But you would have no objections to selling it?
MARKS:
Not the slightest.
GEORGE:
What do you value it at?
MARKS:
Well, say five dollars, that’s reasonable.
GEORGE:
There they are. [(Gives money.)]
Now answer me to the best of your
ability. Has the death of St. Clare caused his slaves to be sold?
MARKS:
It has.
GEORGE:
How were they sold?
MARKS:
At auction — they went dirt cheap.
GEORGE:
How were they bought — all in one lot?
MARKS:
No, they went to different bidders.
GEORGE:
Was you present at the sale?
MARKS:
I was.
GEORGE:
Do you remember seeing a negro among them called Tom?
MARKS:
What, Uncle Tom?
GEORGE:
The same — who bought him?
MARKS:
A Mr. Legree.
GEORGE:
Where is his plantation?
MARKS:
Up in Louisiana, on the Red River; but a man never could find it,
unless he had been there before.
GEORGE:
Who could I get to direct me there?
MARKS:
Well, stranger, I don’t know of any one just at present ‘cept
myself, could find it for you; it’s such an out-of-the-way sort of hole; and if you
are a mind to come down handsomely, why, I’ll do it.
GEORGE:
The reward shall be ample.
MARKS:
Enough said, stranger; let’s take the steamboat at once. [(Exeunt.)]