The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 265: what you’re looking at

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was suggested to him that “ all gentlemen as called themselves gentlemen were accustomed to behave as sich and treat the turnkeys.” To this farther drain upon his exchequer the Colonel likewise submitted; and he enjoyed the supreme satisfac- tion of having his health drunk by the three thirsty-looking turnkeys belonging to the upper lobby, and the two hungry and thirsty-looking turnkeys annexed to the lower lobby. He was now escorted to the coffee-house, where, upon inquiry, he found that he could be accommo- dated with a bed-room—which bed-room, upon inspection, turned out to be about the same di- mensions as an ordinary clothes-press. How- ever, the Colonel was compelled to submit to the necessity of the case: and it being now five o’clock in the afternoon, he inquired what he could have for dinner. The reply was “anything he chose to order :” but it subsequently proved that a steak or a chop would come most conveniently within the culinary capabilities of the establishment. Having accordingly agreed apon the materials for his dinner, the Colonel! sate down, dolefully and despondingly enough, to read the newspaper in the wine-room. But scarcely had he commenced the perusal of a ponderous leading article on nothing at all, when he was startled by the sudden burstiog forth of a stentorian voice just outside the window. He listened, and heard the following announcement duly and deliberately made :— “O yes! Oyes! O yes! This is to give no- tice that if any body has found an old pair of black breeches, new seated, which was took from the winder of Mac Haugh the tailor’s room, Namber 3 in 10 Staircase, and will bring them to the crier, he shall receive a pot of half-an-half for his trouble and no questions axed. God save the King !’ Old Yorke—for he it was who gave forth this very interesting and exciting snnouncement— paused for a few moments—clieared his voice frum a littie huskiness that had seized upon it through too powerful a vociferation—and then commu- nicated another piece of intelligence to the ad- miring denizens of the Bench :-— “Oyes! O yes! O yes! Kuow yeall whom it may cousarn, and take notice, that a Free-and- Easy will be held to-night in the Brace, for the benefit of Mr. Peter Sniggies, who had the misfortune to cut his head open by falling dead drunk down No. 10 Staircase. The cheer wil] be taken by Mr. Joseph Tubbs at 8 o'clock precisely, when several comic songs and other wocal harmony will take place. God save the King!” Old Yorke then passed on from the vicinage of the Coffee House to repeat the announcements in other parts of the building ; and the Colonel learnt from the waiter who brought io his dinner that those announcements were really genuine and seriously meant, and nota mere hoax, as Malpas had at first imagined them to be. Having partaken of his meal, and while sipping the first glass of an execrable pint of Port, the Colonel was informed by the waiter that a gentle- men wished to speak to him. “ Who is he ?” inquired Malpas. “ Weil, sir, he’s a lawyer as is well known in this here place,” answered the waiter, “and does a sight of business for genelmen in difficulties. He whispered to me to that he could get you out of quod in three or four days——” Hee a a a a a etiatar ncaa cna) ge ee cP Tr THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. “Indeed I" ejaculated Malpas, his countenance brightening up. “What is his nane ?” “Mr. Joshua Jenkins,” answered the waiter. * Shall I tell him to walk in ?” “ By all means,” responded the Colonel: “and bring a clean glass, as perhaps Mr. Jenkins will do me the favour to take some wine with me.” The waiter slid out of the room with a most praise-worthy alacrity, considering that he had to drag with him a pair of shoes down at the heels and a great deal too large for his feet. In a few minutes he returned, escorting a short seedy- looking individual, with very dirty linen and an unmistakable Jewish countenance. Jn fact, the personal appearance of this gentleman was by no means such as would have induced a cautious indi- vidual to trust him to get change for a five-pound note. The Colonel, therefore,—surprised and dis- gusted at this unpromising aspect of the man of business,—rcceived him in a somewhat frigid and haughty fashiou, just barely inviting him to be seated, but not choosing to take any notice of the circumstance of an extra glass being placed upon the tab'e. Mr. Jushua Jenkins was however a gentleman of the free and easy school; and as once drawing a chair close up to the table, he ob- served, “ Well, Colonel, so you are lumbered at last "” “You speak as if you knew me, sir,” remarked Malpas, surveying him with undisguised disgust. “Oh! I know everybody by name about town,” replied Mr. Joshua Jenkins, with a cunning leer : ‘“‘and therefore it was not likely that the fashion- able name of Malpas should remain strange to me. In fact, I knew when you was locked up over at Ikey’s; and I shoald have come to see you there, but I thought by your stopping at such a piace you was making arrangements to get out. Now, however, that you have come over here I thought it high time to introduce myself. So here’s bettcr luck to you, Colonel,” added Mr. Jenkins, coolly filling the glass and raising it to his lips: then with a familiar nod across the table, he tossed off the contents. “ And pray, sir,” inquired the Colonel, sinking back perfectly aghast at this King’s Bench ease and hail-fellow-well-met unceremoniouaness,— “and pray, sir,” he repeated in his usual drawling tone, “what can you do for me?” Get you out of guod,” replied Jenkins, with a knowing wink as he refilled his glass. “Do you, then, know anybody who is likoly to lend me five thousand guineas ?” inquired Malpas, surveying the seedy-looking lawyer with an expres- sion of mingled incredulity aad superciliousness. “Not I indeed,” returned Jenkins. ‘‘I suppose you would not pay the debt if you could; but would rather get out, snap your fingers at your creditor, ran over to France, and make him take a farthing in the pound.” “ But is it possible to manage this?” exclaimed Malpas, somewhat staggered by the air of decision which the attorney assumed. “To be sure it is,” was the still more positive response. “And how?” demanded “Walpas, looking and speaking more civilly. “ By bail,” rejoined Mr. Jenkins: and he tossed off two glasses of wine in rapid succession. “Ah! 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