"
"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.
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