"No; I found her in the street as I have told you."
"It is strange. She seems like an American. It is a pity to send her to the hospital, but I can do no better."
"You will send her there!" exclaimed the stranger, joyfully, "The policeman talked of the Tombs."
"No, no, she is no person for that, I am certain," exclaimed the Commissioner. "I only wish we had the power of doing more than can be expected at Bellevue; but certainly she shall go to no worse place than that."
"Oh, thank you!" said the stranger, gratefully.
"I will write out an order, with a few lines to the resident physician at Bellevue. Nothing more can be done, I am afraid."
"Oh, that is a great deal—everything, in fact—of course she will have proper attention in an institution where you have control."
The Commissioner looked grave, but did not answer that over the Bellevue Hospital his power was merely a name—that he could grant supplies and give directions, but had no real authority over subordinates appointed by the Common Council, and could not, for the most flagrant misconduct, discharge the lowest man about the department of which he was the bonded and responsible head. Shackled in his actions and even in his speech, this truly efficient and good man would pledge himself to nothing, so he merely said:
"Will you, sir—you who have done so much—conduct this poor woman yourself to Bellevue? The van will go up soon, but she does not seem of the usual class."
"I will go with her, of course," replied the stranger, resuming his seat in the carriage with benevolent alacrity, while the Commissioner returned to his office and hastily wrote a letter to the resident physician, beseeching him to bestow especial care on the unknown patient who seemed so ill, and so completely alone in the world.