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and which reflected the effulgence of the moonlight with an
incredible distinction； he observed； stretching before him； long
lines of white garden walls； overtopped by a prodigious
luxuriance of tropical foliage。
In these gardens； and set close to the street； stood several
pretentious villas and mansions； the slatted blinds and curtains
of the windows of which were raised to admit of the freer
entrance of the cool and balmy air of the night。 From within
there issued forth bright lights； together with the exhilarating
sound of merry voices laughing and talking； or perhaps a song
accompanied by the tinkling music of a spinet or of a guitar。 An
occasional group of figures； clad in light and summer…like
garments； and adorned with gay and startling colors； passed him
through the moonlight； so that what with the brightness and
warmth of the night； together with all these unusual sights and
sounds； it appeared to Jonathan Rugg that he was rather the
inhabitant of some extraordinary land of enchantment and
unreality than a dweller upon that sober and solid world in which
he had heretofore passed his entire existence。
Before continuing this narrative the reader may here be informed
that our hero had come into this enchanted world as the
supercargo of the ship SUSANNA HAYES； of Philadelphia； that he
had for several years proved himself so honest and industrious a
servant to the merchant house of the worthy Jeremiah Doolittle
that that benevolent man had given to his well…deserving clerk
this opportunity at once of gratifying an inclination for foreign
travel and of filling a position of trust that should redound to
his individual profit。 The SUSANNA HAYES had entered Kingston
Harbor that afternoon； and this was Jonathan's first night spent
in those tropical latitudes； whither his fancy and his
imagination had so often carried him while he stood over the desk
filing the accounts of invoices from foreign parts。
It might be finally added that； had he at all conceived how soon
and to what a degree his sudden inclination for adventure was to
be gratified； his romantic aspirations might have been somewhat
dashed at the prospect that lay before him。
II。 The Mysterious Lady with the Silver Veil
At that moment our hero suddenly became conscious of the fact
that a small wicket in a wooden gate near which he stood had been
opened； and that the eyes of an otherwise concealed countenance
were observing him with the utmost closeness of scrutiny。
He had hardly time to become aware of this observation of his
person when the gate itself was opened； and there appeared before
him； in the moonlight； the bent and crooked figure of an aged
negress。 She was clad in a calamanco raiment； and was further
adorned with a variety of gaudily colored trimmings； vastly
suggestive of the tropical world of which she was an inhabitant。
Her woolly head was enveloped； after the fashion of her people；
in the folds of a gigantic and flaming red turban constructed of
an entire pocket…handkerchief。 Her face was pock…pitted to an
incredible degree； so that what with this deformity； emphasized
by the pouting of her prodigious and shapeless lips； and the
rolling of a pair of eyes as yellow as saffron； Jonathan Rugg
thought that he had never beheld a figure at once so
extraordinary and so repulsive。
It occurred to our hero that here； maybe； was to overtake him
such an adventure as that which he had just a moment before been
desiring so ardently。 Nor was he mistaken； for the negress； first
looking this way and then that； with an extremely wary and
cunning expression； and apparently having satisfied herself that
the street； for the moment； was pretty empty of passers； beckoned
to him to draw nearer。 When he had approached close enough to her
she caught him by the sleeve； and； instantly drawing him into the
garden beyond； shut and bolted the gate with a quickness and a
silence suggestive of the most extravagant secrecy。
At the same moment a huge negro suddenly appeared from the shadow
of the gatepost； and so placed himself between Jonathan and the
gate that any attempt to escape would inevitably have entailed a
conflict； upon our hero's part； with the sable and giant
guardian。
Says the negress； looking very intently at our hero： 〃Be you
afeard； Buckra？〃
〃Why； no；〃 quothed Jonathan； 〃for to tell thee the truth； friend；
though I am a man of peace； being of that religious order known
as the Society of Friends； I am not so weak in person nor so
timid in disposition as to warrant me in being afraid of any one。
Indeed； were I of a mind to escape； I might； without boasting；
declare my belief that I should be able to push my way past even
a better man than thy large friend who stands so threateningly in
front of yonder gate。〃
At these words the negress broke into so prodigious a grin that；
in the moonlight； it appeared as though the whole lower part of
her face had been transformed into shining teeth。 〃You be a brave
Buckra；〃 says she； in her gibbering English。 〃You come wid
Melina； and Melina take you to pretty lady； who want you to eat
supper wid her。〃
Thereupon； and allowing our hero no opportunity to decline this
extraordinary invitation； even had he been of a mind to do so；
she took him by the hand； and led him toward the large and
imposing house which commanded the garden。 〃Indeed；〃 says
Jonathan to himself； as he followed his sable guidehimself
followed in turn by the gigantic negro〃indeed； I am like to
have my fill of adventure； if anything is to be judged from such
a beginning as this。〃
Nor did the interior sumptuousness of the mansion at all belie
the imposing character of its exterior； for； entering by way of
an illuminated veranda； and so coming into a brilliantly lighted
hallway beyond； Jonathan beheld himself to be surrounded by such
a wealth of exquisite and well…appointed tastefulness as it had
never before been his good…fortune to behold。
Candles of clarified wax sparkled like stars in chandeliers of
crystal。 These in turn； catching the illumination； glittered in
prismatic fragments with all the varied colors of the rainbow； so
that a mellow yet brilliant radiance filled the entire apartment。
Polished mirrors of a spotless clearness； framed in golden frames
and built into the walls； reflected the waxed floors； the rich
Oriental carpets； and the sumptuous paintings that hung against
the ivory…tinted paneling； so that in appearance the beauties of
the apartment were continued in bewildering vistas upon every
side toward which the beholder directed his gaze。
Bidding our hero to be seated； which he did with no small degree
of embarrassment and constraint； and upon the extreme edge of the
gilt and satin…covered chair； the negress who had been his
conductor left him for the time being to his own contemplation。
Almost before he had an opportunity to compose himself into
anything more than a part of his ordinary sedateness of demeanor；
the silken curtains at the doorway at the other end of the
apartment were suddenly divided； and Jonathan beheld before him a
female figure displaying the most exquisite contour of mould and
of proportion。 She was clad entirely in white； and was enveloped
from head to foot in the folds of a veil of delicate silver
gauze； which； though hiding her countenance from recognition；
nevertheless permitted sufficient of her beauties to be discerned
to suggest the extreme elegance and loveliness of her lineaments。
Advancing toward our hero； and extending to him a tapering hand
as white as alabaster； the fingers encircled with a multitude of
jewelled rings； she addressed him thus：
〃Sir；〃 she said； speaking in accents of the most silvery and
musical cadence； 〃you are no doubt vastly surprised to find
yourself thus unexpectedly； and almost as by violence； introduced
into the house of one who is such an entire stranger to you as
myself。 But though I am unknown to you； I must inform you that I
am better acquainted with my visitor； for my agents have been
observing you ever since you landed this afternoon at the dock；
and they have followed you ever since； until a little while ago；
when