nd the whole thing like a tonic. The intense
vitality of the people, the pandemonium of Broadway at midnight, with
its flaming illuminations, its eager crowd, its inimitable restlessness,
fascinated them both. Sogrange, indeed, remembering the decadent languor
of the crowds of pleasure-seekers thronging his own boulevards, was
never weary of watching these men and women. They passed from the
streets to the restaurants, from the restaurants to the theatre, out
into the streets again, back to the restaurants, and once more into the
streets. Sogrange was like a glutton. The mention of bed was hateful to
him. For three days they existed without a moment's boredom.

On the fourth evening Peter found Sogrange deep in conversation with the
head porter. In a few minutes he led Peter away to one of the bars where
they usually took their cocktail.

"My friend," he announced, "to-night I have a treat for you. So far we
have looked on at the external night life of New York. Wonderful and
thrilling it has been, too. But there is the underneath also. Why not?
There is a vast polyglot population here, full of energy and life. A
criminal class exists as a matter of course. To-night we make our bow to
it."

"And by what means?" Peter inquired.

"Our friend the hall porter," Sogrange continued, "has given me the card
of an ex-detective who will be our escort. He calls for us to-night, or
rather, to-morrow morning, at one o'clock. Then, behold! the wand is
waved, the land of adventures opens before us."

Peter grunted.

"I don't want to damp your enthusiasm, my Canadian friend," he said,
"but the sort of adventures you may meet with to-night are scarcely
likely to fire your romantic nature. I know a little about what they
call this underneath world in New York. It will probably resolve itself
into a visit to Chinatown, where we shall find the usual dummies taking
opium, and quite prepared to talk about it for the usual tip. After that
we shall visit a few low dancing halls, be shown the scene of several
murders, and the thing is done."

"You are a cynic," Sogrange declared. "You would throw cold water upon
any enterprise. Anyway, our detective is coming. We must make use of
him, for I have engaged to pay him five dollars."

"We'll go where you like," Peter assented, "so long as we dine on a roof
garden. This beastly fur coat keeps me in a chronic state of
perspiration."

"Never mind," Sogrange said consolingly, "it's most effec