intheconstancyoftheyoungwomanwhotoldhersea-goinglover，tosuchabeautifuloldtune，thatshehadevercontinuedthesame，sinceshegavehimthe’baccer-boxmarkedwithhisname；Iamafraidheusuallygottheworstofthosetransactions，andwasfrightfullytakenin。No，IwasgoingtoWapping，becauseanEasternpolicemagistratehadsaid，throughthemorningpapers，thattherewasnoclassificationattheWappingworkhouseforwomen，andthatitwasadisgraceandashame，anddiversotherhardnames，andbecauseIwishedtoseehowthefactreallystood。
For，thatEasternpolicemagistratesarenotalwaysthewisestmenoftheEast，maybeinferredfromtheircourseofprocedurerespectingthefancy-dressingandpantomime-posturingatSt。
George’sinthatquarter:whichisusually，todiscussthematteratissue，inastateofmindbetokeningtheweakestperplexity，withallpartiesconcernedandunconcerned，and，forafinalexpedient，toconsultthecomplainantastowhathethinksoughttobedonewiththedefendant，andtakethedefendant’sopinionastowhathewouldrecommendtobedonewithhimself。
LongbeforeIreachedWapping，Igavemyselfupashavinglostmyway，and，abandoningmyselftothenarrowstreetsinaTurkishframeofmind，reliedonpredestinationtobringmesomehoworothertotheplaceIwantedifIwereevertogetthere。WhenI
hadceasedforanhourorsototakeanytroubleaboutthematter，Ifoundmyselfonaswing-bridgelookingdownatsomedarklocksinsomedirtywater。Overagainstme，stoodacreatureremotelyinthelikenessofayoungman，withapuffedsallowface，andafigurealldirtyandshinyandslimy，whomayhavebeentheyoungestsonofhisfilthyoldfather，Thames，orthedrownedmanaboutwhomtherewasaplacardonthegranitepostlikealargethimble，thatstoodbetweenus。