ican'
character, he penetrated even these mysteries.

"Everything was arranged for the tour during the night before his
departure on the _Majestic_. It was a charmingly dark night,
admirably suited for those _chiaroscuro_ effects that a
black-and-white artist is supposed to seek even in his dreams. An
experienced Central Office detective took him in hand with all the
_savoir faire_ of an Egyptian dragoman.

"HITTING THE PIPE.

"With the wisdom of an artist and the news-sense of a Park Row
hustler, Mr. Furniss lit a cigarette, and said:

"'Show me all.'

"This remark filled me with terror. Was it right to permit this
well-meaning but over-zealous friend of my country, my people and
myself to sound the depths of social degradation in the metropolis
and lard an otherwise charming book with screed and sketches
dragged from the slums? He was likely to mistake Donovan's Lane for
Harlem Lane, and Paradise Square for Maddison Square! Any man would
be liable to do so after a few days' visit to a strange city. How
many of the American birds of passage who flock to London every
summer know the distinction between Mitre and Capel Courts? One is
the scene of a ghastly Whitechapel murder; the other is the
financial center of the Eastern world!

[Illustration]

"When, therefore, it was seen to be impossible to dissuade the
talented young caricaturist from his blue-glass view of
metropolitan society, it seemed necessary to provide for our
self-defence. One of the cleverest pen-and-ink artists in America
was engaged to accompany the party as a second detective. A flying
visit was paid to Mott Street, and the services of High Lung, a
distinguished crayon manipulator, recently arrived (by way of
Vancouver and the dark of the moon), were secured to make a
Chinese-American caricature of the charming but over-curious
Englishman.

"Everything worked to a charm. Mr. Furniss went where he intended.
He saw all. He made sketches. He visited the shrine of the great
Joss. He ate birds' nests and rice. He saw the deadly opium smoked,
and 'hit the pipe' a few minutes himself.

"The night came to an end with dawn. Headache destroyed curiosity.
Our own faithful, copper-fastened distorter of facial beauty set
down in Mr. Furniss's black art wh