The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 114: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE KINCHIN-KEN 87 ‘“Brayvo!’’ ejaculated several voices. ‘‘ Brayvo — bray-ay-vo — oh!” shouted the rest, taking up the chorus; and when order was restored by the rapping of the Kinchin- Grand’s hammer upon the table, the landlord of the place made his appearance from some back premises. “ Well, what is it now? ’’ demanded that individual, who was a short, thin, dirty old man, with a very wrinkled and cadaverous countenance and surly looks. ‘““ Here’s a feller as is game to stand heavy yet for us all,” responded the Kinchin-Grand; ‘‘ so look alive, Old Bloak, and bring in the lush.”’ The landlord’s features underwent a species of grim re- laxation as he received the silver from Page’s hand, but before he departed to execute the commission, he sounded each coin on the table; then, quite satisfied with the result of a process which was doubtless very necessary in such an establishment, he used all possible despatch to supply the | amount of malt liquor ordered. The health of the individual who had provided this treat was now proposed by the Kinchin-Grand in a speech stuffed so full of slang terms and flash expressions that had Mr. Page been at a Chinese banquet, with a Mandarin holding forth in his own language at the head of the table, the whole affair would have proved equally intelligible. However, the commercial traveller's health was drunk with uproarious glee; and almost immediately after this ceremony was performed, the Magsman entered the room. The appearance of that formidable personage was the signal for fresh outbursts of rejoicing. The boys looked upon him as affording the brightest example that could possibly be offered to their contemplation, a sort of thieves’ cynosure, combining all the admirable qualities of Dick Turpin, Jack Sheppard, and other individuals noted in the Newgate calendar, — a hero, in fine, the mere mention of whose name was sufficient to excite the fires of emulation in every breast. On the other hand, the girls surveyed him with profound deference and respect; and had King George III entered the place at that moment the young prostitutes would not have thought half so much of the company of that monarch as of the presence of one whose marvellous deeds were calculated, if recorded in print, to invest the annals of crime with the interest of romance. (C(O) il 0) Oy 0) (C(O)