"Come along," said Ralston, grabbing him by the arm. They took their seats in the hansom.
"Where to?" asked the cabby monotonously.
Once more the exhausted animal climbed wearily up Fifth Avenue. A touch of yellow sunlight was just gilding the housetops on the left, and the street stretched gray and solitary northward.
"You say she's waiting?" Steadman asked nervously.
Ralston was beginning to feel the revivifying effects of the whisky and soda and the fresh morning air.
"''Twas like looking for a needle in haystack,'" he hummed. "'Although the chance of finding it was small.' Not an easy job, my friend."
"But I didn't know you were in New York!"
Again Ralston felt weary, awfully weary, and sleepy.
"Oh, don't mention it!" yawned this "finder of lost persons."
"But why should you? You hardly knew me!"
"And that somebody had to know _how_, eh?"
"It would appear so. You'd concealed yourself pretty effectually for some time. Your friend the colonel was getting anxious, you know."
"Tell you some time," answered Ralston sleepily. "By the way, do you mind saying how long you'd been in that house?"
"How long has this little expedition lasted?"
The Searcher glanced at his companion. Already the stimulus of the bath had succumbed to fatigue. The face was drawn and hollow; the eyes red; the mouth twitched. Ralston turned away, his old loathing and disgust returning in an instant.
The driver turned into Fifty-seventh Street, and the sun jumped above the housetops. Suddenly Steadman burst into tears, sobbing in long-drawn hollow sobs like a wearied child, covering his face with his hands.
"Come, come, buck up! This won't do!" exclaimed Ralston.
"O God!" groaned Steadman tremulously. "I can't face her. Turn around! Anywhere!"
"You shall see her!" answered the other. "And now!"
Steadman wiped his eyes. His chest heaved convulsively. He had grown quite pale.
"You shall see her--as you are," repeated Ralston, "and thank her for having saved you from disgrace."
Steadman said nothing more. The cab drew up before the door of an apartment house.
"Get out! Do you hear?" shouted Ralston, with anger in his eyes.
Steadman obeyed, his companion following close behind him. Inside, a darky sat fast asleep by the elevator. Ralston rapped loudly upon the glass and the man moved, rubbed his eyes, and came stupidly to the door.