On the right of this passage were eight private rooms, very small, and open at the top as the law required.
Half-way down its length the passage grew wider.

Here the rooms were on both sides and were much larger than those in front.
It was this part of the Imperial that was most frequented, and that had made its reputation.

In the smaller rooms in front one had beer and Welsh rabbits; in the larger rooms, champagne and terrapin.
Vandover, Haight, and Geary came in through the ladies' entrance of the Imperial at about eleven o'clock, going slowly down the passage, looking into each of the little rooms, searching for one that was empty.

All at once Vandover, who was in the lead, cried out: "Well, if here isn't that man Ellis, drinking whisky by himself.

Bah! a man that will drink whisky all _alone_! Glad to see you just the same, Bandy; move along, will you--give a man some room." "Hello, hello, Bandy!" cried Geary and young Haight, hitting him in the back, while Geary added: "How long have you been down here?
_I've_ just come from making a call with the boys.