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and they have followed you ever since； until a little while ago；
when you stopped immediately opposite my garden gate。 These
agents have observed you with a closeness of scrutiny of which
you are doubtless entirely unaware。 They have even informed me
that； owing doubtless to your extreme interest in your new
surroundings； you have not as yet supped。 Knowing this； and that
you must now be enjoying a very hearty appetite； I have to ask
you if you will do me the extreme favor of sitting at table with
me at a repast which you will doubtless be surprised to learn has
been hastily prepared entirely in your honor。〃
So saying； and giving Jonathan no time for reply； she offered him
her hand； and with the most polite insistence conducted him into
an exquisitely appointed dining room adjoining。
Here stood a table covered with a snow…white cloth； and
embellished with silver and crystal ornaments of every
description。 Having seated herself and having indicated to
Jonathan to take the chair opposite to her； the two were
presently served with a repast such as our hero had not thought
could have existed out of the pages of certain extraordinary
Oriental tales which one time had fallen to his lot to read。
This supper （which in itself might successfully have tempted the
taste of a Sybarite） was further enhanced by several wines and
cordials which； filling the room with the aroma of the sunlit
grapes from which they had been expressed； stimulated the
appetite； which without them needed no such spur。 The lady； who
ate but sparingly herself； possessed herself with patience until
Jonathan's hunger had been appeased。 When； however； she beheld
that he weakened in his attacks upon the dessert of sweets with
which the banquet was concluded； she addressed him upon the
business which was evidently entirely occupying her mind。
〃Sir；〃 said she； 〃you are doubtless aware that every one； whether
man or woman； is possessed of an enemy。 In my own case I must
inform you that I have no less than three who； to compass their
ends； would gladly sacrifice my life itself to their purposes。 At
no time am I safe from their machinations； nor have I any one；〃
cried she； exhibiting a great emotion； 〃to whom I may turn in my
need。 It was this that led me to hope to find in you a friend in
my perils； for； having observed through my agents that you are
not only honest in disposition and strong in person； but that you
are possessed of a considerable degree of energy and
determination； I am most desirous of imposing upon your
good…nature a trust of which you cannot for a moment suspect the
magnitude。 Tell me； are you willing to assist a poor； defenceless
female in her hour of trial？〃
〃Indeed； friend；〃 quoth Jonathan； with more vivacity than he
usually exhibited； with a lenity to which he had heretofore in
his lifetime been a strangerbeing warmed into such a spirit；
doubtless； by the generous wines of which he had
partaken〃indeed； friend； if I could but see thy face it would
doubtless make my decision in such a matter the more favorable；
since I am inclined to think from the little I can behold of it；
that thy appearance must be extremely comely to the eye。〃
〃Sir；〃 said the lady； exhibiting some amusement at this
unexpected sally； 〃I am； you must know； as God made me。 Sometime；
perhaps； I may be very glad to satisfy your curiosity； and
exhibit to you my poor countenance such as it is。 But now〃and
here she reverted to her more serious mood〃I must again put it
to you： are you willing to help an unprotected woman in a period
of very great danger to herself？ Should you decline the
assistance which I solicit； my slaves shall conduct you to the
gate through which you entered； and suffer you to depart in
peace。 Should you； upon the other hand； accept the trust； you are
to receive no reward therefor； except the gratitude of one who
thus appeals to you in her helplessness。〃
For a few moments Jonathan fell silent； for here； indeed； was he
entering into an adventure which infinitely surpassed any
anticipation that he could have formed。 He was； besides； of a
cautious nature； and was entirely disinclined to embark into any
affair so obscure and tangled as that in which he now found
himself becoming involved。
〃Friend；〃 said he； at last； 〃I may tell thee that thy story has
so far moved me as to give me every inclination to help thee in
thy difficulties； but I must also inform thee that I am a man of
caution； having never before entered into any business of this
sort。 Therefore； before giving any promise that may bind my
future actions； I must； in common wisdom； demand to know what are
the conditions that thou hast in mind to impose upon me。〃
〃Indeed； sir；〃 cried the lady； with great vivacity and with more
cheerful accentsas though her mind had been relieved of a
burden of fear that her companion might at once have declined
even a consideration of her request〃indeed； sir； you will find
that the trust which I would impose upon you is in appearance no
such great matter as my words may have led you to suppose。
〃You must know that I am possessed of a little trinket which； in
the hands of any one who； like yourself； is a stranger in these
parts； would possess no significance； but which while in my
keeping is fraught with infinite menace to me。〃
Hereupon； and having so spoken； she clapped her hands； and an
attendant immediately entered； disclosing the person of the same
negress who had first introduced Jonathan into the strange
adventure in which he now found himself involved。 This creature；
who appeared still more deformed and repulsive in the brilliantly
lighted room than she had in the moonlight； carried in her hands
a white napkin； which she handed to her mistress。 This being
opened； disclosed a small ivory ball of about the bigness of a
lime。 Nodding to the negress to withdraw； the lady handed him the
ivory ball； and Jonathan took it with no small degree of
curiosity and examined it carefully。 It appeared to be of an
exceeding antiquity； and of so deep a yellow as to be almost
brown in color。 It was covered over with strange figures and
characters of an Oriental sort； which appeared to our hero to be
of Chinese workmanship。
〃I must tell you； sir；〃 said the lady； after she had permitted
her guest to examine this for a while in silence； 〃that though
this appears to you to be of little worth； it is yet of extreme
value。 After all； however； it is nothing but a curiosity that any
one who is interested in such matters might possess。 What I have
to ask you is this： Will you be willing to take this into your
charge； to guard it with the utmost care and fidelityyes； even
as the apple of your eyeduring your continuance in these parts；
and to return it to me in safety the day before your departure。
By so doing you will render me a service which you may neither
understand nor comprehend； but which shall make me your debtor
for my entire life。〃
By this time Jonathan had pretty well composed his mind for a
reply。
〃Friend；〃 said he； 〃such a matter as this is entirely out of my
knowledge of business； which is； indeed； that of a clerk in the
mercantile profession。 Nevertheless； I have every inclination to
help thee； though I trust thou mayest have magnified the dangers
that beset thee。 This appears to me to be a little trifle for
such an ado； nevertheless； I will do as thou dost request。 I will
keep it in safety and will return it to thee upon this day a week
hence； by which time I hope to have discharged my cargo and be
ready to continue my voyage to Demerara。〃
At these words the lady； who had been watching him all the time
with a most unaccountable eagerness； burst forth into words of
such heart…felt gratitude as to entirely overwhelm our hero。 When
her transports had been somewhat assuaged she permitted him to
depart； and the negress conducted him back through the garden；
whence she presently showed him through the gate whither he had
entered and out into the street。
III。 The Terrific Encounter with the One…eyed Little Gentleman in
Black
Finding himself once more in the open street； Jonathan Rugg stood
for a while