Mr.Yancy on his part believed that if Murrell went to bed reasonably drunk he would sleep late and give him the opportunity he coveted, to quit the tavern unobserved at break of day.

Gradually the ice of silence which had held them mute at supper, thawed.

At first it was the broken lazy speech of men who were disposed to quiet, then the talk became brisk--a steady stream of rather dreary gossip of horses and lands and negroes, of speculations past and gone in these great staples.
Hannibal crossed to the corn-field.

There, in the friendly gloom, he examined his handkerchief and felt of the rolled-up bill.

Then he made count of certain silver and copper coins which he had in his other pocket.