The String of Pearls; or, The Barber of Fleet Street — page 46: what you’re looking at

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

he replaced in his clothes, and continued to converse with some of those around him, ot ae 1 ti ; taken of Things now subsided into their general course; and little notice was ake | Sweeney. There was some drink on the board, of which all partook. Sweeney had some, too, and took the precaution of emptying his pockets before them all, dnd gave them a share of bis money to pay his footing. This was policy, and: they all drank to his success, and were very good companions. Sweeney, however, was desirous of getting out as soon as he could, and more than once cast his eyes towards the door; but he saw there were eyes upon him, and dared not excite suspicion, for he might undo all that he had done. ‘To lose the precious treasure | he possessed would be maddening: he had succeeded to admiration in inducing | the belief that what he showed them was merely a counterfeit; but he knew so |] well that they were real, and that a latent feeling that they were humbugged migat be hanging about; and that the fist suspicious movement he would be watched, |} and some desperate attempt made to make him give them up, It was with no || small violence to his own feelings that he listened to their conversation, and | appeared to take an interest in their proceedings. “ Well,” said one, who sat next him, “I’m just off for the aorth-road.”’ * Any fortune there ?” ‘e) “Not much; and yet I mustn't complain: these last three weeks, the best I | have had has been two sixties.’’ “Well, that would do very well.” "Sec “Yes, the last man I stopped was a regular looby Londoner; he appeared like a don, complete tip-top man of fashion; but, Lord! when I caine to look over him, he hadn’t as much as would carry me twenty-four miles on the road.” “Indeed ! don’t you think he had any hidden about him ?—they do do so now.” * Ah, ah!” returned another, “ well said, old fellow; ’tis a true remark, that | we can’t always judge a man from appearances. Lor! bless me, now, who'd ’a | thought your swell,cove proved to be out o? luck? Well, I’m sorry for you; but you know ’tis a long lane that has no turning, as Mr, Somebody says—so, | perhaps, yowll be more fortunate another time. But come, cheer up, whilst J relate an adventure that occurred a little time ago; ’twas a slice of good luck, l assure you, for-I had no difficulty in bouncing my victim, out of a good sway of tin; for you know farmers returning from market are not always too wary and careful, especially as the lots of wine they take at the market dinners make the cosy old boys ripe and mellow for sleep, Well, £ met one of these jolly gentlemen, mounted on horseback, who declared he had nothing but a few paltry guineas about him; however, that would not do—I searched Libis and found a hundred and four pounds secreted about his person.” “Where did you find if ?” * About him, tore his clothes to ribands. A. pretty figure he looked upon || horseback, 1 assure you. By Jove, I could hardly help laughing ; in faet, I did || laugh at him, which so enraged him, that he immediately threatened to horse- whip me, and yet he dared not defend his money; but I threatened to shoot him, and that soon brought him to his senses.” Set should imagine so. Did you ever have a fight for it?” inquired Sweeney |, _ “Yes, several times. Ah! it?s by no- means an easy life, you is free, but dangerous. I have been fired at six or seven times.’ ‘€ So many | “Yes. I was near York once, when I stopped a gentleman; I thought him| al easy conquest, but not ag he turned out, for he was a regular devil,’ * Resisted’ you 2” ¢e VF as ° ° / Yes, he did. I was coming along when I met him, and I demanded his moO y. : Call cep it mvself ' he said ; and d y ist ni ne J ( k ; ; O not want any assis aie e 43 ps 5) . tance to take “But LT want it,” said I; «your money or your life.” may depend. It | Se ae memes a rs ec geent eee ~ See ee Ho See nt nn ie ee nen ene ee ——- = — a comicbooks.com