The stranger told his story in few words, for he saw by the business appearance of the office that it was no place for long speeches. The Commissioner listened attentively. "Where is the poor woman now?" he questioned, when the man paused in his narrative. "She is waiting in the street--I brought her with me." "I will see her myself: one minute and I am ready." The Commissioner took up his hat, crossed the room, spoke a few words to the woman who sat weeping on the sofa, told an old man who stood waiting by the door that he would return in a very few minutes and attend to him, then with a light, active step he left the room, followed by the stranger. They found Mrs. Chester in the carriage, grasping the cushion beneath her head with both hands, and muttering wildly to herself. The last few hours had brought her disease into its most malignant state. She was incapable of a single connected thought. The Commissioner stepped into the carriage and helped to arrange the cushions. "She is delirious; it is the fever. Typhus, I should think, in its worst form," he said. "She must have prompt care." "She must, indeed," replied the stranger. "The noise, the hot sun, all are making her worse." "And you do not know her name?" "No; she has muttered over several names, but I could not tell which was hers." "Nor her home, of course?" "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."