There was a moment of silence, then Porgy heard Archdale’s voice calling a number; then: “Hello! Is that the Solicitor’s office? Mr. Dennis, please.”
“Oh--this is Archdale, Dennis. Yes, another negro. This time it is Frasier, you know, the divorce decree case. Yes, I have him here in my office. Look here; you have a terrifically heavy docket this term. There is no use taking the State’s money and your valuable time on this case.”
There followed a pause; then Archdale said hastily, “Oh, no; I am not trying anything; but he is perfectly innocent of any deliberate wrongdoing. Yes, of course; it would be serious if he were responsible; but you know no one takes old Frasier seriously. A no-bill from the grand jury would save no end of time and trouble.
“Yes; I will guarantee that he will stop.”
Porgy listened intently; and after a moment he heard Archdale say, “Thank you,” and turn his chair toward his client. Then he heard him address the negro.
“We are not going to lock you up this time, Simon. But you will have to stop divorcing your people. I have given my word. If you do it again, snap! to jail we both go. Do you understand?”
A relieved gasp greeted the announcement, followed by “Gawd bless yuh, Boss!” and a moment later Frasier stood blinking in the white glare of the street.
Porgy looked up, and in an exact imitation of Frasier’s professional manner, said testily, “Mobe on, please; mobe on. I gots a berry perlite goat hyuh wut objec’ tuh de smell ob de jail-bird.”
A chuckle sounded from Archdale’s office.
Immediately the light of victory, carefully veiled, but bright, shone in Porgy’s eyes. He reached behind him and tweaked the goat by the ear. The dejected animal mistook the signal, and started forward.
“No, no, bubber,” whispered Porgy. “Ain’t yuh hear de Boss laugh? When nigger mek de buckra laugh, den he know he done won. Dis wey we goin’ spen’ we libe. You watch.”
The change in Porgy, which Peter had been the first to notice, was now apparent to all who knew him. The defensive barrier of reserve that he had built about his life was down. The long hours when he used to sit fixed and tense, with the look of introspection upon his face, were gone. Even the most skeptical of the women were beginning to admit that Bess was making him a good mate. Not that they mingled freely with the other residents of the court. On the contrary, they seemed strangely sufficient unto themselves in the midst of the intensely gregarious life that was going on about them. Porgy’s earnings were adequate to their modest needs, and Bess was always up and out with the first of the women, and among them all there was none who could bargain more shrewdly with the fishermen and hucksters who sold their wares on the wharf.