Mr. Jingles Befriends Delacroix

The mouse, now named Mr. Jingles by Delacroix, begins to sit on the prisoner's shoulder and perform tricks. Delacroix claims the mouse whispered its name to him. The mouse learns to fetch a colored spool, rolling it back with its nose or paws, a trick that amazes the guards. Delacroix is overjoyed, and the mouse becomes his constant companion, sleeping in a cigar box lined with cotton batting provided by a surprisingly cooperative Percy. The mouse's presence calms Delacroix and brings a rare moment of happiness to the block. Paul Edgecombe and the other guards are fascinated by the mouse's intelligence and its bond with the condemned man.