son to take his seat in the witness's section was Curtis Anderson； Warden Moores's stand…in。
At eleven…thirty； I approached Delacroix's cell with Brutal and Dean walking slightly behind me。 Del was sitting on his bunk； with Mr。 Jingles in his lap。 The mouse's head was stretched forward toward the condemned man； his little oilspot eyes rapt on Del's face。 Del was stroking the top of Mr。 Jingles's head between his ears。 Large silent tears were rolling down Del's face； and it was these the mouse seemed to be peering at。 Del looked up at the sound of our footsteps。 He was very pale。 From behind me； I sensed rather than saw John Coffey standing at his cell door； watching。
Del winced at the sound of my keys clashing against metal； but held steady； continuing to stroke Mr。 Jingles's head； as I turned the locks and ran the door open。
〃Hi dere； Boss Edgebe；〃 he said。 〃Hi dere； boys。 Say hi； Mr。 Jingles。〃 But Mr。 Jingles only continued to look raptly up at the balding little man's face； as if wondering at the source of his tears。 The colored spool had been neatly laid aside in the Corona box … laid aside for the last time； I thought； and felt a pang。
〃Eduard Delacroix； as an officer of the court。。。〃
〃Boss Edgebe？〃
I thought about just running on with the set speech； then thought again。 〃What is it； Del？〃
He held the mouse out to me。 〃Here。 Don't let nothing happen to Mr。 Jingles。〃
〃Del； I don't think he'll e to me。 He's not … 〃
〃Mais oui； he say he will。 He say he know all about you； Boss Edgebe； and you gonna take him down to dat place in Florida where the mousies do their tricks。 He say he trust you。〃 He held his hand out farther； and I'll be damned if the mouse didn't step off his palm and onto my shoulder。 It was