As Martin Eden went down the steps, his hand dropped into his coat pocket.

It came out with a brown rice paper and a pinch of Mexican tobacco, which were deftly rolled together into a cigarette.

He drew the first whiff of smoke deep into his lungs and expelled it in a long and lingering exhalation.

"By God!" he said aloud, in a voice of awe and wonder.

"By God!" he repeated.