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persisted。 〃We are not accustomed 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。〃
〃Ah； I see！ should you be murdered； we would be in position to
identify the corpse。〃
He said it so cheerfully and cold…bloodedly that on the instant I saw
my stark and mutilated cadaver stretched upon a slab where cool waters
trickle ceaselessly； and him I saw bending over and sadly and patiently
identifying it as the body of the insane American who WOULD see the
East End。
〃No； no；〃 I answered； 〃merely to identify me in case I get into a scrape
with the 'bobbies。'〃 This last I said with a thrill； truly； I was gripping
hold of the vernacular。
〃That；〃 he said； 〃is a matter for the consideration of the Chief Office。〃
〃It is so unprecedented； you know；〃 he added apologetically。
The man at the Chief Office hemmed and hawed。 〃We make it a
rule；〃 he explained； 〃to give no information concerning our clients。〃
〃But in this case；〃 I urged； 〃it is the client who requests you to give the
information concerning himself。〃
Again he hemmed and hawed。
〃Of course；〃 I hastily anticipated； 〃I know it is unprecedented； but〃
〃As I was about to remark；〃 he went on steadily； 〃it is unprecedented；
and I don't think we can do anything for you。〃
However； I departed with the address of a detective who lived in the
East End； and took my way to the American consul…general。 And here； at
last； I found a man with whom I could 〃do business。〃 There was no
hemming and hawing； no lifted brows； open incredulity； or blank
amazement。 In one minute I explained myself and my project； which he
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accepted as a matter of course。 In the second minute he asked my age；
height； and weight； and looked me over。 And in the third minute； as we
shook hands at parting； he said： 〃All right； Jack。 I'll remember you and
keep track。〃
I breathed a sigh of relief。 Having burnt my ships behind me； I was
now free to plunge into that human wilderness of which nobody seemed to
know anything。 But at once I encountered a new difficulty in the shape
of my cabby； a grey…whiskered and eminently decorous personage who
had imperturbably driven me for several hours about the 〃City。〃
〃Drive me down to the East End；〃 I ordered； taking my seat。
〃Where； sir？〃 he demanded with frank surprise。
〃To the East End； anywhere。 Go on。〃
The hansom pursued an aimless way for several minutes； then came to
a puzzled stop。 The aperture above my head was uncovered； and the
cabman peered down perplexedly at me。
〃I say；〃 he said； 〃wot plyce yer wanter go？〃
〃East End；〃 I repeated。 〃Nowhere in particular。 Just drive me
around anywhere。〃
〃But wot's the haddress； sir？〃
〃See here！〃 I thundered。 〃Drive me down to the East End； and at
once！〃
It was evident that he did not understand； but he withdrew his head；
and grumblingly started his horse。
Nowhere in the streets of London may one escape the sight of abject
poverty； while five minutes' walk from almost any point will bring one to
a slum； but the region my hansom was now penetrating was one unending
slum。 The streets were filled with a new and different race of people；
short of stature； and of wretched or beer…sodden appearance。 We rolled
along through miles of bricks and squalor； and from each cross street and
alley flashed long vistas of bricks and misery。 Here and there lurched a
drunken man or woman； and the air was obscene with sounds of jangling
and squabbling。 At a market； tottery old men and women were searching
in the garbage thrown in the mud for rotten potatoes； beans； and
vegetables； while little children clustered like flies around a festering mass
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THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
of fruit； thrusting their arms to the shoulders into the liquid corruption； and
drawing forth morsels but partially decayed； which they devoured on the
spot。
Not a hansom did I meet with in all my drive； while mine was like an
apparition from another and better world； the way the children ran after it
and alongside。 And as far as I could see were the solid walls of brick； the
slimy pavements； and the screaming streets； and for the first time in my
life the fear of the crowd smote me。 It was like the fear of the sea； and
the miserable multitudes； street upon street； seemed so many waves of a
vast and malodorous sea； lapping about me and threatening to well up and
over me。
〃Stepney； sir； Stepney Station；〃 the cabby called down。
I looked about。 It was really a railroad station； and he had driven
desperately to it as the one familiar spot he had ever heard of in all that
wilderness。
〃Well；〃 I said。
He spluttered unintelligibly； shook his head； and looked very miserable。
〃I'm a strynger 'ere；〃 he managed to articulate。 〃An' if yer don't want
Stepney Station； I'm blessed if I know wotcher do want。〃
〃I'll tell you what I want；〃 I said。 〃You drive along and keep your eye
out for a shop where old clothes are sold。 Now； when you see such a
shop； drive right on till you turn the corner； then stop and let me out。〃
I could see that he was growing dubious of his fare； but not long
afterwards he pulled up to the curb and informed me that an old… clothes
shop was to be found a bit of the way back。
〃Won'tcher py me？〃 he pleaded。 〃There's seven an' six owin' me。〃
〃Yes；〃 I laughed； 〃and it would be the last I'd see of you。〃
〃Lord lumme； but it'll be the last I see of you if yer don't py me；〃 he
retorted。
But a crowd of ragged onlookers had already gathered around the cab；
and I laughed again and walked back to the old…clothes shop。
Here the chief difficulty was in making the shopman understand that I
really and truly wanted old cl