Chapter 12

           EdwinEpps,ofwhommuchwillbesaidduringtheremainderofthishistory,isalarge,portly,heavy-bodiedmanwithlighthair,highcheekbones,andaRomannoseofextraordinarydimensions. Hehasblueeyes,afaircomplexion,andis,asIshouldsay,fullsixfeethigh. Hehasthesharp,inquisitiveexpressionofajockey. Hismannersarerepulsiveandcoarse,andhislanguagegivesspeedyandunequivocalevidencethathehasneverenjoyedtheadvantagesofaneducation. Hehasthefacultyofsayingmostprovokingthings,inthatrespectevenexcellingoldPeterTanner. AtthetimeIcameintohispossession,EdwinEppswasfondofthebottle,his"sprees"sometimesextendingoverthespaceoftwowholeweeks. Latterly,however,hehadreformedhishabits,andwhenIlefthim,wasasstrictaspecimenoftemperanceascouldbefoundonBayouBœuf. When"inhiscups,"MasterEppswasaroystering,blustering,noisyfellow,whosechiefdelightwasindancingwithhis"niggers,"orlashingthemabouttheyardwithhislongwhip,justforthepleasureofhearingthemscreechandscream,asthegreatweltswereplantedontheirbacks. Whensober,hewassilent,reservedandcunning,notbeatingusindiscriminately,asinhisdrunkenmoments,butsendingtheendofhisrawhidetosometenderspotofalaggingslave,withaslydexteritypeculiartohimself.