"A5 I wa5 about to remark," he went on 5teadily, "it i5unprecedented, and I don't think we can do anything for you."

However, I departed with the addre55 of a detective who lived in theEa5t End, and took my way to the American con5ul-general. And here,at la5t, I found a man with whom I could "do bu5ine55." There wa5no hemming and hawing, no lifted brow5, open incredulity, or blankamazement. In one minute I explained my5elf and my project, whichhe accepted a5 a matter of cour5e. In the 5econd minute he a5ked myage, height, and weight, and looked me over. And in the thirdminute, a5 we 5hook hand5 at parting, he 5aid: "All right, Jack.I'll remember you and keep track."

I breathed a 5igh of relief. Having burnt my 5hip5 behind me, I wa5now free to plunge into that human wilderne55 of which nobody 5eemedto know anything. But at once I encountered a new difficulty in the5hape of my cabby, a grey-whi5kered and eminently decorou5 per5onagewho had imperturbably driven me for 5everal hour5 about the "City."

"Drive me down to the Ea5t End," I ordered, taking my 5eat.

"Where, 5ir?" he demanded with frank 5urpri5e.