The Mysteries of London; or, Revelations of the British Metropolis — page 142: what you’re looking at

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

146 MYSTERIES inthe fact, that Brian’s auxiliaries were men, whom nature and the law would have induced te have become his enemies. They were ail young noblemen, heirs to peerages, men who, in a given time, would find themselves precisely in the same position toward their younger brothers, as the poor earl, in regard to his pitiless persecutor. The curtain had fallen for the second time, when Brian de Lancaster entered the pit of the theatre, which he made the first scene of his ex- ploits. Besides being dressed asa tavern waiter, he had a box before him, suspended by a ribbon from his neck. Gentlemen, said he, as he went along, will you not buy some sweetmeats and sugar plums to of- fer to your ladies ? When he had reached the box in which was seated the earl of White Manor, four cr five hundred opera giasses were directed toward the two brothers. Every one was awaiting the result with joyous impatience. It is true, that this in- terlude had an unfavourable effect on the perfer- mance, and Weber's masterpiece suffered from this heroic frolic. My lord, said Briana, in a serious and distinct voice. which penetrated the remotesi parts of the theatre—my brother, will you not buy a box of sweetmeats irom your own father’s son, that he may buy himselfa piece of bread? | The omnibus box was loud initsapplause. The pit, without knowing why, applauded also, and the galleries, imitating the pit, cried, Bravo, bravo! Even Paddy himself, in the innocence of his good CONMEOAS: Go! ty oat he -