too smart for them! I'll introduce you to him presently.
See the man with him? That's his lawyer, biggest crook
in America, they say; we'll meet him after dinner." Then
he would suddenly break off and exclaim: "Egad, sir,
there's a fine bunch of them," as another bevy of girls
came trooping out upon the stage.

"I wonder," I murmured, "if there is nothing left of him
but this? Has all the fine old spirit gone? Is it all
drowned out in wine and suffocated in the foul atmosphere
of luxury?"

Then suddenly I looked up at my companion, and I saw to
my surprise that his whole face and manner had altered.
His hand was clenched tight on the edge of the table.
His eyes looked before him--through and beyond the riotous
crowd all about him--into vacancy, into the far past,
back into memories that I thought forgotten. His face
had altered. The senile, leering look was gone, and in
its place the firm-set face of the Knickerbocker of a
century ago.

He was speaking in a strange voice, deep and strong.

"Listen," he said, "listen. Do you hear it--there--far
out at sea--ships' guns--listen--they're calling for
help--ships' guns--far out at sea!" He had clasped me by
the arm. "Quick, to the Battery, they'll need every man
to-night, they'll--"