All the week long he was busy in visiting hospitals, alms-houses and lunatic asylums, and in examining their records and the mortuary records of the city.

Sometimes he presented himself at the doors of public institutions as a philanthropist, preparing by personal inspection for writing some book, or getting statistics, or establishing an institution on behalf of a public benefactor.

Sometimes he went in the character of a lawyer, in search of a man who had fallen heir to a fortune.

He had always a plausible story to tell, and found no difficulty in obtaining an entrance at all the doors to which his inquisition led him.

He was treated everywhere so courteously that his self-respect was wonderfully nourished, and he began to feel as if it were possible for him to become a man again.
On every Saturday night, according to Mr.Belcher's command, he made his appearance in the little basement-room of the grand residence, where he was first presented to the reader.