“Now let me get this straight, Reverend,” August Sweet stood from his seat on the pew and addressed Bram after he had finished explaining the circumstances of purchasing Hiren instead of the bell. “You went into King’s Port to buy the bell but got lost, so you bought a slave instead?”

“August, you know that’s not what Reverend said at all. Circumstances were such that he really didn’t have a choice in the matter.” Lionel Marks ran his finger...