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 accents--as 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