I left the house that morning, I had a consultation with Mrs.
Mason, who had passed the night in attendance upon Miss Jorgensen, and
who had informed me that she had been very restless, in spite of the
quieting prescription left by the doctor. "I wish you would go up and
speak to her," Mrs. Mason said. "Perhaps you can do something for her
which I could not; and I am sure she needs some such service."

Thus urged, I obeyed an impulse of my own, which had been to do this
very thing. When I tapped softly at her door, she said, "Come in!" in a
pained and petulant tone, as if any interruption was wearisome to her;
but when she saw who it was, her countenance assumed an eager and
animated expression, which rewarded me at once for the effort I was
making.

"Thank you for coming to see me," said she quickly. "I was almost on the
point of sending for you." Pausing for a moment, while her eyes searched
my face, she continued: "I am in trouble, which cannot be all explained,
and which will force you, if you do a service for me, to take me very
much upon trust; but I will first assure you that what you may do for me
will not involve _you_ in any difficulty. More than this I cannot now
say. Will you do this service for me, and keep your agency in the matter
secret? The service is slight, the importance of secrecy great."

I expressed my willingness to do anything which would not compromise me
with myself, and that, I told her, I did not fear her requiring.

She then proceeded, with some embarrassment, to say that she wished a
note conveyed to Mr. Hurst; upon which I smiled, and answered, "I had
conjectured as much."

"But you must not conjecture anything," she replied, with some asperity;
"for you are sure to go wide of the truth. You think I have only to send
for Mr. Hurst to bring him here; but you are mistaken. He cannot come,
because he _dare_ not. He is in hiding, but I cannot tell you why. Only
do not betray him; I ask no more. You are not called upon to do any
more--to do anything against him, I mean." Seeing me hesitate, she
continued: "I need not tell you that I believe my life is in your hands.
I have been living a long time with all my faculties upon a severe
strain, so severe that I feel I shall go mad if the pressure is
increased. I entreat you not to refuse me."

"Very well," I answered, "I will do what you require."

"It is only to take this"--she pulled a note from beneath her pillow,
addressed to "Mr. Harry