is over there, somewhere." And they waved their
hands vaguely in the direction where the sun on
rare occasions may be seen to rise.

"Then I shall go to Cook s," I announced.

"Oh, yes," they said, with relief. " Cook s will be
sure to know."

But O Cook, O Thomas Cook & Son, pathfind
ers and trail-clearers, living sign-posts to all the
world and bestowers of first aid to bewildered trav
ellers unhesitatingly and instantly, with ease and
celerity, could you send me to Darkest Africa or
Innermost Thibet, but to the East End of London,
barely a stone s throw distant from Ludgate Circus,
you know not the way !

"You can t do it, you know," said the human
emporium of routes and fares at Cook s Cheapside
branch. " It is so ahem so unusual."

"Consult the police," he concluded authorita
tively, when I persisted. " We are not accus
tomed to taking travellers to the East End; we
receive no call to take them there, and we know
nothing whatsoever about the place at all."

"Never mind that," I interposed, to save myself
from being swept out of the office by his flood of
negations. " Here s something you can do for me.
I wish you to understand in advance what I intend
doing, so that in case of trouble you may be able to
identify me."

[[3]]

p002 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p003w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p004

v?