Out upon this balcony, and close to the railing, the child follows the old woman confidently. Then, as she peers out into the night, she draws back. "It's--very--dark," she whispers. "It's the light inside that makes it seem so dark, dearie. Ah! I see a glimmer of Cinderella's lamp now; look, child!" Stooping quickly, she lifts the little one and seats her upon the railing of the balcony. Then, as the child, shading her eyes with a tiny hand, attempts to peer out into the darkness, something damp and sickening is pressed to her face; there is an odor in the air not born of the flowers within, and Daisy Warburton, limp and unconscious, lies back in the arms of her enemy. In another moment, the woman in the garb of Mother Goose has dropped from the balcony to the ground beneath, and, bearing her still burden in her arms, disappeared in the darkness. And as her form vanishes from the balcony, a city clock, far away, tolls out the hour: _midnight_. * * * * * At this same hour, with the same strokes sounding in their ears, a party of men sally forth from the X--street Police station, and take their way toward the river. They are policemen, mostly dressed in plain clothes, and heavily armed, every man. They move away silently like men obeying the will of one master, and presently they separate, dropping off by twos and threes into different by-ways and obscure streets, to meet again at a certain rendezvous. It is the Raiding Party on its way to the slums, and, contrary to the hopes of the Chief of the detectives and the Captain of the police, it is led, not by Dick Stanhope, but by Van Vernet. Contrary to all precedent, and greatly to the surprise of all save Vernet, Richard Stanhope has failed to appear at the time appointed; and so, after many doubts, much hesitation, and some delay, Van Vernet is made leader of the expedition. "I shall send Stanhope as soon as he reports here," the Chief had said as a last word to Vernet. "His absence to-night is most reprehensible, but his assistance is too valuable to be dispensed with." Mentally hoping that Stanhope's coming may be delayed indefinitely, Van Vernet bites his lip and goes on his way, while the Chief sits down to speculate as to Stanhope's absence, and to await his coming. But he waits in vain. The long night passes, and day dawns, and Richard Stanhope does not appear. Meanwhile, Van Vernet and the two men who accompany him, arrive first of the party at their rendezvous. It is at the mouth or entrance to a dark, narrow street, the beginning of that labyrinth of crooked by-ways, and blind alleys, from the maze of which Richard Stanhope had rescued himself and the wounded convict, on the night previous.