Digital heart book

CHAPTER VIII


FACES ON THE CITY FRONT
IT is very much the custom to view life as if it were
exactly ruled in two, like sleep and waking--the
provinces of play and business standing separate. The
business side of my career in San Francisco has been
now disposed of; I approach the chapter of diversion;
and it will be found they had about an equal share in
building up the story of the Wrecker--a gentleman whose
appearance may be presently expected.
With all my occupations, some six afternoons and two or
three odd evenings remained at my disposal every week:
a circumstance the more agreeable as I was a stranger
in a city singularly picturesque. From what I had once
called myself, "The Amateur Parisian," I grew (or
declined) into a water-side prowler, a lingerer on
wharves, a frequenter of shy neighbourhoods, a scraper
of acquaintance with eccentric characters. I visited
Chinese and Mexican gambling-hells, German secret
societies, sailors' boarding-houses, and "dives" of
every complexion of the disreputable and dangerous.


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