He passed his hand over his brow, as if to banish these thoughts, and then perused the letter which he held in his hand,-- "It is signed by my 'unknown friend of the half-way house,' and desires me, for certain reasons, to be at a particular locality, in the Five Points, at ten minutes past twelve. It is now,"--he took his gold watch from his pocket,--"half past eleven. I must be moving. A singular request, and a mysterious letter; but I will obey." On the table lay a leather belt, in which were inserted two bowie-knives and a revolving pistol. Randolph wound it about his waist, and then drew a cap over his brow, and gathered his cloak more closely to his form. He next extinguished the candle, and stole softly from the room. As he descended the stairway, all was still throughout the mansion. The servants had retired, and Eleanor, Esther, and the old man, no doubt, were sound asleep. Randolph passed along the hall, and opening the front door, crossed its threshold. "Now for the adventure," he ejaculated, and hurried down Broadway. After nearly half an hour's walk, he turned into one of those streets which lead from the light and uproar of Broadway, toward the region of the Tombs. Darkness was upon the narrow street, and his footsteps alone broke the dead stillness, as he hurried along. As he reached a solitary lamp, which gave light to a portion of the street, his ear caught the echo of footsteps behind: and impelled by an impulse which he could not himself comprehend, Randolph paused, and concealed his form in the shadow of a deep doorway. From where he stood, by the light of the lamp, (which was not five paces distant,) he could command a view of any wayfarer who might chance to pass along the deserted street. The footsteps drew nearer, and presently two persons came in sight. They halted beneath the lamp. Randolph could not see their faces, but he remarked that one was short and thick-set in form, while the other was tall and commanding. The tall one wore a cloak, and the other an overcoat. And Randolph heard their voices-- "Are we near the hound? My back hurts like the devil, and I don't wish to go any farther than is necessary." "Only a block or two, to go," replied the other. "Judas Iscariot! Just think that we're sure to find _him_ there, Royalton, and your back won't hurt a bit." "Oh, by ----! let me but find _him_, and stand face to face with _him_, and I'll take care of the rest." These words, accompanied by an oath, and uttered with the emphasis of a mortal hatred, were all that Randolph heard. The twain proceeded on their way. It was not until the sound of their footsteps had died away, that Randolph emerged from his hiding-place-- "Yes, you will meet _him_, and stand face to face with _him_, and--the rest is yet to be known." He felt for his knives and pistols,--they were safe in the belt about his waist; and then, conscious that the crisis of his fate was near at hand, he silently pursued his way.