out that I must chronicle a curious
circumstance. As we were entering the building, something made me look
round. To my intense astonishment I saw, or believed I saw, Dr. Nikola
standing in the street, regarding me. Bidding my companion remain where
he was for a moment, I dashed out again and ran towards the place where
I had seen the figure. But I was too late. If it were Dr. Nikola, he had
vanished as suddenly as he had come. I hunted here, there, and
everywhere, in doorways, under verandahs, and down lanes, but it was no
use, not a trace of him could I discover. So abandoning my search, I
returned to the Casino. Beckenham was waiting for me, and together we
entered the building.

The room was packed, and consequently all the tables were crowded, but
as we did not intend playing, this was a matter of small concern to us.
We were more interested in the players than the game. And, indeed, the
expressions on the faces around us were extraordinary. The effect on the
young man by my side was peculiar. He looked from face to face, as if he
were observing the peculiarities of some strange animals. I watched him,
and then I saw his expression suddenly change.

Following the direction of his eyes, I observed a young man putting down
his stake upon the board. His face was hidden from me, but by taking a
step to the right I could command it. It was none other than the young
cripple who had represented his parents to be in such poverty-stricken
circumstances; the same young man whom Beckenham had assisted so
generously only two hours before. As we looked, he staked his last coin,
and that being lost, turned to leave the building. To do this, it was
necessary that he should pass close by where we stood. Then his eyes met
those of his benefactor, and with a look of what might almost have been
shame upon his face, he slunk down the steps and from the building.

"Come, let us get out of this place," cried my companion impatiently, "I
believe I should go mad if I stayed here long."

Thereupon we passed out into the street, and without further ado
proceeded in the direction in which I imagined the _Saratoga_ to lie. A
youth requested, in broken English, to be permitted the honour of
piloting us, but feeling confident of being able to find my way I
declined his services. For fully a quarter of an hour we plodded on,
until I began to wonder why the harbour did not heave in sight. It was a
queer part of the town we found ourselves in;