To his surprise he saw that the man was Stuyvesant Carter!
With an exclamation of disgust and horror Michael stepped full in the pathway of the man and blocked, his further passage.
"What are you doing here?" He asked in tones that would have made a brave man tremble.
Stuyvesant Carter glared at the vision that had suddenly stopped his way, drew his hat down over his evil eyes and snarled: "Get out of my way or you'll be sorry! I'm probably doing the same thing that you're doing here!"
"Probably not!" said Michael with meaning tone. "You know you can mean no good to a girl like that one you were just with. Come down here again at your peril! And if I hear of you're having anything to do with that girl I'll take means to have the whole thing made public."
"Indeed!" said young Carter insolently. "Is she your girl? I think not! And who are you anyway?"
"You'll find out if you come down here again!" said Michael his fingers fairly aching to grip the gentlemanly villain before him. "Now get out of here at once or you may not be able to walk out."
"I'll get out when I like!" sneered the other, nevertheless backing rapidly away through the opening given him. When he had reached a safe distance, he added, tantalizingly: "And I'll come back when I like, too."
"Very well, I shall be ready for you, Mr. Carter!"
Michael's tones were clear and distinct and could be heard two blocks away in the comparative stillness of the city night. At sound of his real name spoken fearlessly in such environment, the leader of society slid away into the night as if he had suddenly been erased from the perspective; nor did sound of footsteps linger from his going.
"Who was dat guy?"
It was a small voice that spoke at Michael's elbow. Hester and Will were far down the street in the other direction and had forgotten Michael.
Michael turned and saw one of his smallest "kids" crouching in the shadow beside him.
"Why, Tony, are you here yet? You ought to have been asleep long ago."
"Was dat de ike wot comes to see Lizzie?"
"See here, Tony, what do you know about this?"
Whereupon Tony proceeded, to unfold a tale that made Michael's heart sick. "Lizzie, she's got swell sence she went away to work to a res'trant at de sheeshole. She ain't leavin' her ma hev her wages, an' she wears fierce does, like de swells!" finished Tony solemnly as if these things were the worst of all that he had told.