[_He seems to be unaware of the presence of MADISON. He comes forward with little mincing steps and an old man’s gesture, then takes off his hat and sees about him. The others stand watching him, transfixed._] Ain’ you goin’ shut de do’, Lucy? I feels draf’s. I’m gittin’ old an’ catches cold easy. Ain’ you goin’ take my hat? [_She reaches for it mechanically, watching him apprehensively._] No, de hat—not de stick—ol’ pu’son like me always need good stout stick er club case er havin’ faintin’ spell—sumpin’ to lean on. Now, wheah a cheer, bettah fetch me er cheer fo’ feah I might set on sumpin’ you wouldn’ choose fo’ me. [_She obeys dumbly and brings a chair to him._] Set it neareh. Dat’s right. Now gimme youah shouldeh an’ ease me down. Ah— [_He leans heavily on her and sinks totteringly into the chair with a great show of feebleness._] Now take a cheer yo’se’f. I ’spize to see a lady standin’ an’ me takin’ my res’, old ez I is. [_She obeys, watching him with doubt and dread._] Set it dah, wheah I can see you good. [_MADISON is standing up by the wall, right, gazing at him as though paralyzed with fear._] Dah now. We kin be ca’m and have a nice talk. Does you know what business I come yere fo’ tonight? [_He pauses._] You does, doesn’t you? LUCY [_Almost beside herself with nervous tension._] You—come to see—ef— [_Recovering herself with a mighty effort._] Oh, yes, you come to look oveh de stove an’ see ef you like to buy hit. WILLIAMS [_Musingly._] M-m. Well, I reckon—dat’s hit. Yes, dey tells me y’all has a wahmin’ stove to sell an’ now katydid cease, fros’ ain’ fur off, an’ I needs hit. Is dish yere de one? LUCY [_Rising and rushing toward door at side._] No, not dat. Hit’s outside—ef you please to step out. WILLIAMS Well’m, I’ll take’n look her oveh. [_She hastily lights a candle as he rises and totters in the wrong direction._] LUCY Th’oo heah, th’oo heah. De stove’s out in de woodshed. [_She grasps and guides him._] WILLIAMS Ah—well’m. Um hm. I always gives things er good lookin’ oveh befo’ takin’ stock in ’m. You needn’ come erlong. I lived so long in dis house befo’ you wuz bawn dat I knows my way. Is de stove an easy wood eateh? LUCY Yes, yes. [_She gives him the candle and almost pushes him through doorway at side as she follows him out. MADISON, who has watched fearfully from a dark corner, darts forward and looks after them, listening. He then runs toward the door at back but hesitates before it and turns as LUCY comes swiftly in from outer room, closing the door softly._] MADISON What he say? Do he know? LUCY [_Desperately seizing the bag and pressing it into his hands as she turns him again toward doorway at back._] Oh, I cain’ tell. On’y resto’ dis in case he don’ know er case he do. Now’s de one chance to be hones’. MADISON Huh. What erbout dat eight hunderd dollah? LUCY I don’ know. Trus’ Gawd an’ be hones’. MADISON