The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 43: what you’re looking at

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

26 THE MYSTERIES They had almost decided upon a third when they recollected that the ice-punch was by no means of good quality the last time they were there ; and the name of a fourth hotel was likewise bJack-balled on the score that there was never enough of cayenne in the soup. A fifth hotel was discussed for ten minutes, but also eschewed, not through any fault in the culinary department, but because the proprietor had attended to oppose Lord Cecil Stafford when he went through the Court; and a sixth was discarded because the head-waiter had such very bad teeth. Ulti- mately these two aristocratic coxcombs decided upon their dining-place ; and thither did they repair. The important process of dinner engaged them up till nearly ten o’clock ; and then they issued forth to smoke their cigars in the Quadrant, and look at the women parading there. Lord Harold was perfectly sober; but his friend admitted to him, with the mysterious confidence of inebriation, that he was already “ more than half-seas over.” Having taken a few strolls up and down the Quadrant,—the arcade of which was not then cleared away,—they agreed upon adjourning to some place of amusement ; and after due delibera- tion, decided upon the gaming table. ‘T'hey ac- cordingly turned out of the Quadrant into one of the diverging streets, and stopped at a door over which a brilliant gas-lamp was burning. Here they knocked andrung, and the door was instan- taneously opened by a porter who was always on the alert within. They entered—and the door wasimmediately closed again. Nodding familiarly to the porter, who evidently knew them well, they proceeded along the passage to a second door, which even the most superficial observer might perceive to be of extraordinary strength and solidity : indeed, it was plated all over with iron. A small wicket, about a foot square was opened in this door, and a man’s countenance peered through fora moment; but recognising the two noblemen, this second porter, to whom that countenance belonged, closed the wicket and pro- ceeded to open the door itself. Heavy bolts were heard to draw back and chains to fall, thus evincing no ordinary precautions on the part of the proprietors of the gambling-house to barricade themselves against the incursions of the police. Passing on, and again nodding familiarly to the official, Harold and Edmund ascended a carpeted staircase, and reached a handsomely furnished room, of spacious dimensions, with the gaming- table in the middle and a well-spread sideboard at the extremity. This sideboard was covered with refreshments, including the choicest descrip- tions of French wines. The table in the centre, unlike the old-fashioned vowge-et-noir tables, was square—or rather obleng—covered with green baize, and having billiard-pockets at the four corners and on each side. It was also contrived in such a manner that all around there were moveable borders, or ledges, which might be raised so as to form the cushions of a regular billiard- table; but as these borders were now let down flat, by means of their hinges, the table presented an unbroken surface. Tho croupiers, or managers of the gaming- table, were seated in their proper places, with their rakes in their hands, and green shades over their eyes to screen them from the exceeding vividness | sion. OF THE COURT. of the light thrown by the gas-lamps suspended above the board. The bank, or stock of money, was contained in a large cash-box placed on the table before the senior croupier. But on the right hand of this individual was a very extraordinary- looking piece of mechanism, standing upon a pedestal. This instrument had the appearance of a coffee-grinder, with the bow] to receive what- ever was to be ground, and the handle to work the grinding machinery: but instead of having any visible opening for the ground material to run out of, that part of the mill where this opening ought to be was fixed in the pedestal. To complete the description of the several features which the interior of this room presented to the view, we must add that there were three or four bells hanging against the wall, baving wires of communication with the various parts of the house, even up to the very roof, in order that those who were on the watch above, below, and outside in the back part of the premises, might be enabled to give timely warning at the first appear- ance of anything like alarm. There were upwards of a dozen persons around the table, occupied in playing, when Lord Harold and Edmund entered the room. Some of thesein- dividuals were sitting as quiet and composedly as if engaged in the most matter-of-fact proceeding : others were standing—and these were the feverish and excited players. But of those who were seated, two or three were mere “ decoys "—that is to say, persons actually hired by the proprietor of the place not only for the purpose of always keeping the game going, but likewise of en- couraging the unwary and inexperienced to stake their money. This being what is termed “a fashionable hell,” only a certain class of individuals were admitted; namely, those who were known to belong to the wealthy circles: and thus, so far as apparel and outward appearances went, the company were in thatsense “respectable” enough. But if their characters came to be closely scrutin- ized and deeply probed, the investigation would doubtless have afforded an additional proof to the thousand and one already existing, that the villany and profligacy which broadcloth and fine linen cover, are far greater than the vice and depravity which lurk beneath fustian or down- right rags. , Neither Lord Harold Staunton nor Lord Saxon- dale had much money in their pockets at the time to play with: but still they had a few five- pound notes and sovereigns between them; and these they ventured upon the chances of the game. ‘They had been thus occupied for about half-an-hour, and had lost the greater portion of what they had put down, when one of the bells suddenly rang furiously. “Top of the house!” ejaculated one of the croupiers, distinguishing at a glance which bell it was that rung, and therefore from which quarter the alarm proceeded. Confusion and dismay seized upon the two young noblemen and the five or six least ex- periencedindividuals present: but the older hands, including the croupiers and the decoys, showed no bewilderment nor excitement at all; and though their actions were prompt, yet what they did do was done with calmness and self-posses- One of the croupiers took out all the bank- notes and gold from the cash-box, which he placed upon & shelf, seeuring the money about his person. CORNICLOOO <S co