You
have a friend in me. Look up."

Her clear firm tones had their effect on him; he looked up. Their eyes
met.

"Now, let me go, as I told you."

He dropped her hand, and threw himself back in his corner and burst out
crying.

"I shall never see her again," he moaned to himself. "Never, never, never
again!"

"You shall see me to-morrow," she said.

He looked at her through his tears, and looked away again with an abrupt
change to distrust. "She doesn't mean it," he muttered, still speaking to
himself; "she only says it to pacify me."

"You shall see me to-morrow," my aunt reiterated; "I promise it."

He was cowed, but not convinced; he crawled to the full length of his
chain, and lay down at her feet like a dog. She considered for a
moment--and found her way to his confidence at last.

"Shall I leave you something to keep for me until I see you again?"

The idea struck him like a revelation: he lifted his head, and eyed her
with breathless interest. She gave him a little ornamental handbag, in
which she was accustomed to carry her handkerchief, and purse, and
smelling-bottle.

"I trust it entirely to you, Jack: you shall give it back to me when we
meet to-morrow."

Those simple words more than reconciled him to her departure--they subtly
flattered his self-esteem.

"You will find your bag torn to pieces, to-morrow," the superintendent
whispered, as the door was opened for us to go out.

"Pardon me, sir," my aunt replied; "I believe I shall find it quite
safe."

The last we saw of poor Jack, before the door closed on him, he was
hugging the bag in both arms, and kissing it.

CHAPTER VI

On our return to home, I found Fritz Keller smoking his pipe in the
walled garden at the back of the house.

In those days, it may not be amiss to remark that merchants of the
old-fashioned sort still lived over their counting-houses in the city.
The late Mr. Wagner's place of business included two spacious houses
standing together, with internal means of communication. One of these
buildings was devoted to the offices and warehouses. The other (having
the garden at the back) was the private residence.

Fritz advanced to meet me, and stopped, with a sudden change in his
manner. "Something has happened," he said--"I see it in your face! Has
the madman anything to do with it?"

"Yes. Shall I tell you what has happened, Fritz?"

"Not for the world. My ears are closed to all dreadful and distressing
narrativ