The Mysteries of London; or, Revelations of the British Metropolis — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

~~ 10 MYSTERIES The landlady obeyed, but revenged herself for _ the cool impertinence of the captain, by adopting the invariable gesture of vulgar women in ‘such circumstances, and thrusting her clenched fist un- der Susannah’s nose. The girl smiled haughtily; and the blind man swallowed his wine at one draught, exclaiming: 1 would not exchange my enjoyment this evening for a hundred guineas. Five o’clock now sounded from the tavern time- piece; the gang in the tap-room moved from their position, muttering inaudible words; while one of them, a tall fellow, of herculean proportions, thrust his head into the parlour-door. The cap- tain arose, suddenly. Well, well, Turnbull, you scamp, he grumbled, while buttoniny his light blue coat, in military fashion. Susannah! Susannah!—She won’t hear me, you see, Mistress Burnett;I shall return this evening, my good lady, if the devil do not fly away with me, Have my drink ready—sixpence worth of gin, you know, cold without, with the faintest idea of a lemon. The captain now took his cane and descended the steps of the tavern, while the gang of water- men preceded him, directing their course toward Thames-street —the only large avenue betwee the Crown Arms and the river—singing lustily, as they went, and affecting the gait and poculiar- ities of inebriated men. Captain O’Chrane fol- lowed them some twenty steps behind. While passing the Custom-house door, where a group of revenue officers were suuffing in the fog, and puf- fing out the smoke of contraband cigars, the gal- tet it~ 229 : his ; ; ~ €omicbooks.com ©