His thin, firmly compressed lips gave one an impression of a man who, if put to it, would stick at nothing to gain his ends. There was a wolfish look about his face, his eyes appeared more like the eyes of a wild beast than of a human being; he had a good square head and altogether looked like one who had both the head to plan and the hand to carry out any villainy on which he had set his heart. As we have before noted Mrs. Bristow and her husband occupied the parlours of the house in which Peace lodged. Bristow was a smith by trade; in addition to this he was a wretch, who drank horribly, treated his wife――who was a pretty little woman of decent parentage and belongings――with the greatest brutality. Drink, it has been observed, is the curse of the British workman; the fatal propensity has led to the commission of numberless crimes. Our courts of justice furnish us with a black catalogue of atrocities, assaults, and murders, committed by habitual and confirmed drunkards. If the veil could be lifted, and the desolate and miserable home of the drunkard shown in all their hideous deformity, a picture would be presented which the most phlegmatic and unimpressionable would shudder to look upon. It is a sad reflection that nothing can be done to purge the land of this terrible scourge. Bristow had an amiable, forgiving, and patient wife. Her life, since she had been united to her drunken husband was one of sorrow and suffering. She had for her companion, and to a certain extent this was a solace to her, Bessie Dalton, who on many occasions had sheltered her from the domestic storm which burst over her defenceless head. The gentleman who had been the companion of these two women on the evening of the concert saw them to the door of their residence after the performance was over. He took the liberty of calling the next day. He was introduced to Bristow, who, for a wonder, was perfectly sober, and when in this state he was a decent, well-behaved man enough. He was very respectful in his manner, and thanked his visitor for the kindness and consideration he had displayed in protecting his wife from the rougher portion of the crowd gathered in the entrance hall. The interview was but of brief duration; after an exchange of civilities the stranger took his departure. And he called several times after this, and saw both Bessie Dalton and Mr. Bristow. Ultimately, however, these visits culminated in a scene which we shall have to describe in a future chapter. Our more immediate business now is to put the reader in possession of all the incidents connected with the escapade of our hero. Peace, as we have already noted, could not comport himself in a becoming meaner for any great length of time.