In this they were aided by a wardman from the Elizabeth street station, who was supposed to know much about the secret dens of Pell street, and we want it understood that the Bradys are by no means ignorant on that subject themselves.
But as it happened they did not know of any secret dens under that particular house, nor did the wardman, nor could they find any. At last they broke down the wall on two sides of the vault from which Ed had vanished.
Then they discovered the secret passage.
They traced it to its end, and it took a turn, bringing them in under another house.
Here there were two secret rooms where there had once been a private joss house conducted by the Chinese "Tong" or guild known as the Brother of the Red Door.
This particular place, as it happened, had been pulled by the Bradys about a year before.
They found the rooms empty and deserted.
Thus they missed it so far as Ed was concerned, and they finally gave up, feeling satisfied that they had overlooked some hidden door or passage which, of course, must have been the case.
It was now too late to look up Alice, as intended.
Where she was must now be explained.