"Perhaps not," rejoined Jack, dryly. "He'll have precious little appetite, I guess, when we've done with him. You'd better not take his supper in, Mrs. Hoppus, or he'll smell a rat!"
"I will send in Jane, my servant," she replied.
In the dark Jack touched Johnson's arm. "Can you trust her?" he whispered. "She won't split?"
"No, she's right enough. She hopes that Brand will vindicate his character, you know. Hush! he may be back at any moment."
So the three sat in the dark, with their ears against the wall. The minutes went slowly by, and they were growing tired of their cramped position, when the door was heard to open and Brand entered the room. They recognized him by his voice, as he told the servant to bring in his supper. Jane, who was not in the plot, conveyed her mistress's excuses for not personally attending on her lodger. She then disappeared, returning shortly with the meal. Brand sat down to it. He had hardly eaten a mouthful when Jane introduced Tolai.
"Here's a nigger, sir, as wants to see you," said Jane, edging off from the black man.
"Tolai!" said Brand, rising in astonishment; "Tolai come to see me?"
"Ioé!" replied the man, nodding. "You no savvy wot me want tell you; all--e--same you know. Niga, Misi; Niga."
"Jane, you can go," said Brand, turning to the girl. As she left the room he rose and locked the door.
"Now, what is it?" he said to Tolai, in the native tongue. "Speak your own tongue, Tolai, else the woman may hear. These walls are not thick!"