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 in the moonlight； endeavoring to compose his mind
into somewhat of that sobriety that was habitual with him； for；
indeed； he was not a little excited by the unexpected incidents
that had just befallen him。 From this effort at composure he was
aroused by observing that a little gentleman clad all in black
had stopped at a little distance away and was looking very
intently at him。 In the brightness of the moonlight our hero
could see that the little gentleman possessed but a single eye；
and that he carried a gold…headed cane in his hand。 He had hardly
time to observe these particulars； when the other approached him
with every appearance of politeness and cordiality。
〃Sir；〃 said he； 〃surely I am not mistaken in recognizing in you
the supercargo of the ship SUSANNA HAYES； which arrived this
afternoon at this port？〃
〃Indeed；〃 said Jonathan； 〃thou art right； friend。 That is my
occupation； and that is whence I came。〃
〃To be sure！〃 said the little gentleman。 〃To be sure！ To be sure！
The SUSANNA HAYES； with a cargo of Indian…corn meal； and from
dear good friend Jeremiah Doolittle； of Philadelphia。 I know your
good master very wellvery well indeed。 And have you never heard
him speak of his friend Mr。 Abner Greenway； of Kingston；
Jamaica？〃
〃Why； no；〃 replied Jonathan； 〃I have no such recollection of the
name nor do I know that any such name hath ever appeared upon our
books。〃
〃To be sure！ To be sure！〃 repeated the little gentleman； briskly；
and with exceeding good…nature。 〃Indeed； my name is not likely to
have ever appeared upon his books； for I am not a business
correspondent； but one who； in times past； was his extremely
intimate friend。 There is much I would like to ask about him；
and； indeed； I was in hopes that you would have been the bearer
of a letter from him。 But I have lodgings at a little distance
from here； so that if it is not requesting too much of you maybe
you will accompany me thither； so that we may talk at our
leisure。 I would gladly accompany you to your ship instead of
urging you to come to my apartments； but I must tell you I am
possessed of a devil of a fever； so that my physician hath
forbidden me to be out of nights。〃
〃Indeed；〃 said Jonathan； whom； you may have observed； was of a
very easy disposition〃indeed； I shall be very glad to accompany
thee to thy lodgings。 There is nothing I would like better than
to serve any friend of good Jeremiah Doolittle's。〃
And thereupon； and with great amity； the two walked off together；
the little one…eyed gentleman in black linking his arm
confidingly into that of Jonathan's； and tapping the pavement
continually with his cane as he trotted on at a great pace。 He
was very well acquainted with the town （of which he was a
citizen）； and so interesting was his discourse that they had gone
a considerable distance before Jonathan observed they were
entering into a quarter darker and less frequented than that
which they had quitted。 Tall brick houses stood upon either side；
between which stretched a narrow； crooked roadway； with a kennel
running down the centre。
In front of one of these housesa tall and gloomy structureour
hero's conductor stopped and； opening the door with a key；
beckoned for him to enter。 Jonathan having complied； his
new…found friend led the way up a flight of steps； against which
Jonathan's feet beat noisily in the darkness； and at length；
having ascended two stairways and having reached a landing； he
opened a door at the end of the passage and ushered Jonathan into
an apartment； unlighted； except for the Moonshine； which； coming
in through a partly open shutter； lay in a brilliant patch of
light upon the floor。
His conductor having struck a light with a flint and steel； our
hero by the illumination of a single candle presently discovered
himself to be in a bedchamber furnished with no small degree of
comfort； and even elegance； and having every appearance of a
bachelor's chamber。
〃You will pardon me；〃 said his new acquaintance； 〃if I shut these
shutters and the window； for that devilish fever of which I spoke
is of such a sort that I must keep the night air even out from my
room； or else I shall be shaking the bones out of my joints and
chattering the teeth out of my head by to…morrow morning。〃
So saying he was as good as his word； and not only drew the
shutters to； but shot the heavy iron bolt into its place。 Having
accomplished this he bade our hero to be seated； and placing
before him some exceedingly superior rum； together with some
equally excellent tobacco； they presently fell into the
friendliest discourse imaginable。 In the course of their talk；
which after awhile became exceedingly confidential； Jonathan
confided to his new friend the circumstances of the adventure
into which he had been led by the beautiful stranger； and to all
that he said concerning his adventure his interlocutor listened
with the closest and most scrupulously riveted attention。
〃Upon my word；〃 said he； when Jonathan had concluded； 〃I hope
that you may not have been made the victim of some foolish hoax。
Let me see what it is she has confided to you。〃
〃That I will；〃 replied Jonathan。 And thereupon he thrust his hand
into his breeches…pocket and brought forth the ivory ball。
No sooner did the one eye of the little gentleman in black light
upon the object than a most singular and extraordinary convulsion
appeared to seize upon him。 Had a bullet penetrated his heart he
could not have started more violently； nor have sat more rigidly
and breathlessly staring。
Mastering his emotion with the utmost difficulty as Jonathan
replaced the ball in his pocket； he drew a deep and profound
breath and wiped the palm of his hand across his forehead as
though arousing himself from a dream。
〃And you；〃 he said； of a sudden； 〃are； I understand it； a Quaker。
Do you； then； never carry a weapon； even in such a place as this；
where at any moment in the dark a Spanish knife may be stuck
betwixt your ribs？〃
〃Why； no；〃 said Jonathan； somewhat surprised that so foreig