"Down here, little missy." The raspy tone sounded friendly and matched the strange-looking man in the velvet top hat staring curiously up at her from the alley. He wore a burgundy coat and several strands of what looked like pocket watch chains, a crinkled vermillion vest tucked into checkered trousers. A stick the length of his forearm twirled between his wrinkled fingers. He looked like an illustration from Dickens. 