Calmer, they shared a few minutes’ quiet and then began to talk in detail about the business matters of running the plantation. Shortly, they found themselves in the office with two chairs drawn up to the big desk, record and account books open. Because he could relate every name and figure and brief, inked phrase to actual things on the plantation, Floyd absorbed a great deal of information during the next few hours. When they had been there just under an hour, there was a knock at the door, and Myrtis entered carrying a tray which she set down on a side table. Leon looked at her questioningly. She gave a flustered bob of her head and said, “I didn’t know how long you might be being; coffee and cake and cheese and cold biscuits.”

“Thank you, Myrtis.”

She bobbed a second time and went out. They turned back to the ledgers. As Floyd studied a page, frowning, Leon, who knew what was on it, said more to himself than his companion, “She never brought anything before when I was working here.” Louder he said, “By God, Floyd it’s you! She’s cocked her bonnet at you, and you’d better watch out. She’s tired of widowing and looking for a daddy for her twins!”

“She’ll keep on looking,” Floyd said so mildly Leon did not press his joke.

No announcement was made to the plantation hands, but Leon and Floyd went about together the next day and the day after it, and people grew used to seeing them together. It was, in any case, only an extension of their old ways. Leon gradually gave fewer orders and directions, and Floyd gave more; together they rode a steady seesaw. Word had circulated about Roscoe’s leaving and his new independence. There were some sly looks, but most of the looks were not sly nor eager nor reluctant; they merely waited for what would happen next.

A time was agreed upon for the questioning of the debtor slaves. Sarah was not present, but Roscoe found Floyd with Leon in the office. Leon and Roscoe greeted each other formally; Floyd and Roscoe stared at each other briefly without troubling to dissemble their dislike. Leon and Floyd then took their places in chairs close together. Roscoe sat in a chair which had been set close to theirs, but not as close to theirs as theirs were to each other.