Don't ask me to go with you--and oh, dear lady, don't go yourself." My aunt smiled sadly--and led the way out.
We had a special order of admission to the Hospital which placed the resident superintendent himself at our disposal.

He received my aunt with the utmost politeness, and proposed a scheme of his own for conducting us over the whole building; with an invitation to take luncheon with him afterwards at his private residence.
"At another time, sir, I shall be happy to avail myself of your kindness," my aunt said, when he had done.

"For the present, my object is to see one person only among the unfortunate creatures in this asylum." "One person only ?" repeated the superintendent.

"One of our patients of the higher rank, I suppose ?" "On the contrary," my aunt replied, "I wish to see a poor friendless creature, found in the streets; known here, as I am informed, by no better name than Jack Straw." The superintendent looked at her in blank amazement.
"Good Heavens, madam!" he exclaimed; "are you aware that Jack Straw is one of the most dangerous lunatics we have in the house ?" "I have heard that he bears the character you describe," my aunt quietly admitted.
"And yet you wish to see him ?" "I am here for that purpose--and no other." The superintendent looked round at the lawyer and at me, appealing to us silently to explain, if we could, this incomprehensible desire to see Jack Straw.

The lawyer spoke for both of us.