At eight o'clock in the evening, they found themselves in the Franklin
Museum, whither they had gone on Overdale's invitation, to visit the
Free Love Club. When the performance was over they sallied out, and
fetched up in a German lager-bier saloon in William street, where the
assembled Teutons were singing their national airs. For a moment
Overdale was in doubt, but, after two minutes' thought, he informed his
friends that they were in the Academy of Music, listening to an Italian
Opera. When they left they were full of music, they having caught the
inspiration from being in the presence of foreign artists, and
immediately commenced to sing once more "Vilikins and his Dinah," with a
strong chorus, but were almost immediately choked down by the police.
They wandered about disconsolate, inquiring frequently of some hurrying
passer-by where they could find the elephant, and receiving in reply to
their interrogations a great variety of directions as to his
whereabouts, from disinterested persons, all of which they noted down
for reference. They searched an hour and a half for "my uncle, in the
second story of the Fifth Avenue Railroad," which individual, they had
been informed, could give them the desired information; they walked
about four miles in search of "No. 1 'round the corner," at which place
they had been assured, by a venerable female of Milesian accent who sold
peanuts on the curb-stone, they would undoubtedly find the wished-for
quadruped on exhibition. In the course of this latter search, as they
were about to venture into a promising-looking saloon, for the purpose
of procuring something to allay their thirst, Wagstaff caught a glimpse
of the miniature elephant which was over the door of the club-room; and
imagining that he had discovered the veritable animal, he uttered a cry
of joy which attracted his companions to the same object, upon which
they made a grand rush up the flight of stairs. Where they got to, and
how they were received, is already told.

When the narrative had been concluded, Mr. John Spout, the Higholdboy
of the club, declared in solemn terms, that, by virtue of his office,
the three persons whose adventures had just been related by themselves
should be henceforth considered members of the Elephantine order. He
added that any member might object if he chose, but it wouldn't do him
any good, as he should immediately overrule the objection, and kick the
daring objector down stairs.

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