not yet, I want to see London by night. All this, to you, Luscombe,
is commonplace. I dare say it would be to me if my memory came back. As
it is, it is all new and strange to me. It is exciting me tremendously.
I am like one seeing the show for the first time.'

By this time London was at its busiest, crowds surged everywhere.
'Buses, taxi-cabs, and motors threaded their way through the streets,
while the foot pavements were crowded. Places of amusement were emptying
themselves on every hand, and although the streets were darkened, it
seemed to have no effect upon the spirits of the people. The night was
fairly clear, and a pale moon showed itself between the clouds.

'What a city it is!' said Edgecumbe, after we had been walking some time.
'Think of it, the centre of the British Empire, the great heart which
sends its life-blood through the veins of a mighty people! But is the
life-blood pure, my friend?'

We passed up Charing Cross to Leicester Square, and then on through
Piccadilly Circus up Regent Street, then we came down again, through the
Haymarket, into Pall Mall. I am not going to describe what we saw, nor
tell in detail the experiences through which we passed. That ghastly
story of gilded vice, and of corruption which is not ashamed, was too
sad, too pathetic. The Empire might be in danger, even then there might
be Zeppelins hovering in the near distance, waiting to drop missiles of
destruction and death. Less than two hundred miles away our armies were
fighting, guns were booming, shells were shrieking, men were dying. But
here in London, on the eve of the Day of Rest, the tide of iniquity
rolled. Young men were tempted, and falling; many of the very lads who
had done heroic deeds were selling their souls for half an hour's
pleasure.

In spite of the drink regulations, too, it was easy to see that numbers,
both men and women, had been able to obtain it, often to their own
degradation.

'Come on,' said Edgecumbe presently, 'let's get back to the hotel. I've
had enough.'

CHAPTER XXVIII

SUNSHINE AND SHADOW

During the remainder of Edgecumbe's leave we spent our time in seeing and
trying to understand London. As he had insisted, London was the centre
of the British Empire; the great heart which sent its life-blood
throughout the veins of four hundred millions of people. To understand
London, therefore, was to understand the aims, hopes and ideals of the
British race. Of course