and half-a-dozen ancient specimens of
currant-jelly. A few oranges formed the greengrocer's whole concession
to the vulgar mind. A single basket made of moss, once containing
plovers' eggs, held all that the poulterer had to say to the rabble.
Everybody in those streets seemed (which is always the case at that hour
and season) to be gone out to dinner, and nobody seemed to be giving the
dinners they had gone to. On the doorsteps there were lounging footmen
with bright parti-coloured plumage and white polls, like an extinct race
of monstrous birds; and butlers, solitary men of recluse demeanour, each
of whom appeared distrustful of all other butlers. The roll of carriages
in the Park was done for the day; the street lamps were lighting; and
wicked little grooms in the tightest fitting garments, with twists in
their legs answering to the twists in their minds, hung about in pairs,
chewing straws and exchanging fraudulent secrets. The spotted dogs who
went out with the carriages, and who were so associated with splendid
equipages that it looked like a condescension in those animals to come
out without them, accompanied helpers to and fro on messages. Here and
there was a retiring public-house which did not require to be supported
on the shoulders of the people, and where gentlemen out of livery were
not much wanted.

This last discovery was made by the two friends in pursuing their
inquiries. Nothing was there, or anywhere, known of such a person as
Miss Wade, in connection with the street they sought. It was one of the
parasite streets; long, regular, narrow, dull and gloomy; like a brick
and mortar funeral. They inquired at several little area gates, where
a dejected youth stood spiking his chin on the summit of a precipitous
little shoot of wooden steps, but could gain no information. They walked
up the street on one side of the way, and down it on the other, what
time two vociferous news-sellers, announcing an extraordinary event that
had never happened and never would happen, pitched their hoarse voices
into the secret chambers; but nothing came of it. At length they stood
at the corner from which they had begun, and it had fallen quite dark,
and they were no wiser.

It happened that in the street they had several times passed a dingy
house, apparently empty, with bills in the windows, announcing that it
was to let. The bills, as a variety in the funeral procession, almost
amounted to a decoration. Perhaps because th