'The devil!' muttered Frank, as he retraced his steps home--'I am about as wise as ever! A pretty opinion Dr. Palmer expresses of her, truly! Well, she shall have the benefit of a doubt, and I shall try to look upon her as an innocent woman, until I detect her in an act of guilt. Meanwhile, she shall be watched narrowly and constantly.' Frank's suspicions with reference to his newly-made wife, did not prevent his carrying out the plan of benevolence which he formed in the first chapter of this narrative. Adopting various disguises, he would penetrate into the most obscure and dangerous quarters of the city, at all hours of the day and night. The details of many of these secret adventures will be hereafter related. CHAPTER V _A Thieves' Crib on the Five Points--Bloody Mike--Ragged Pete--the Young Thief, and the stolen Letters--The Stranger--a general Turn-out-Peeling a Lodger--the 'Forty-Foot Cave.'_ It was a dreary winter's night, cold, dark, and stormy. The hour was midnight; and the place, the '_Five Points_.' The narrow and crooked streets which twine serpent-like around that dreaded plague spot of the city were deserted; but from many a dirty window, and through many a red, dingy curtain, streamed forth into the darkness rages of ruddy light, while the sounds of the violin, and the noise of Bacchanalian orgies, betokened that the squalid and vicious population of that vile region were still awake. In the low and dirty tap-room of a thieves' _crib_ in Cross street, are assembled about a dozen persons. The apartment is twenty feet square, and is warmed by a small stove, which is red-hot; a roughly constructed bar, two or three benches, and a table constitute all the furniture. Behind the bar stands the landlord, a great, bull-necked Irishman, with red hair, and ferocious countenance, the proprietor of the elegant appropriate appellation of 'Bloody Mike.' Upon the table are stretched two men, one richly dressed, and the other in rags--both sound asleep. Beneath the table lay a wretched-looking white prostitute, and a filthy-looking negro--also asleep. The remainder of the interesting party are seated around the stove, and sustain the following dialogue: 'Well, blow me tight,' said one, 'if ever I seed such times as these afore! Why, a feller can't steal enough to pay for his rum and tobacco. I haven't made a cent these three days. D----n me if I ain't half a mind to knock it off and go to work!'