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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 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 hand