The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 142: what you’re looking at

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

ALEXIS OLIVER 121 Oliver vowed eternal friendship to Christian, who played his part so well that it seemed as if he was only doing the most natural thing in the world in undertaking to pay the debts of his new acquaintance. But all the time Mrs. Oxenden’s paramour was thus expressing his gratitude, he thought within himself that of the green and inexperienced young gentlemen he had ever encountered, his new friend Craven was assuredly the greenest and the most inexperienced. The sponging-house was reached; the three gentlemen were shown to a room, more wine was ordered, and a con- siderable fee was exacted for the process of searching the sheriff’s office at that time of night, for it was now past ten o’clock. Nearly an hour elapsed, Alexis volunteering three or four songs, and appearing most supremely to enjoy the situation in which he was placed, — as well indeed he might, considering that his debts were to be paid from the purse of another. - At the expiration of the hour Mr. Solomons reappeared, with the intimation that there were other judgment-writs out against Mr. Oliver, and that the entire sum requisite for his emancipation amounted to four hundred and thirty pounds. Christian’s pocketbook was produced, and bank-notes for that sum were counted down by him on the table with as much apparent indifference as if they were so many pieces of waste paper. Mr. Solomons received his fees in addition to the amount specified; another cab was summoned, and the three gentlemen took their departure, laughing and jok- ing in the gayest possible humour. ~ ‘““ Now we will go and have supper somewhere and make a night of it,’’ exclaimed Alexis, as the cab drove westward until more specific orders should be issued to the driver himself. “Come to my lodgings,” said Stanley, ‘‘ and I can promise you something choice and good for supper.” “With all my heart,” exclaimed Christian, before Alexis could interpose, for this young gentleman would have in- finitely preferred Evans’s or the Cider Cellars. The order was given to the cabman, and to Captain Stan- ley’s lodgings in Albemarle Street did the vehicle proceed. The table was soon spread with oysters, cold fowls, a Freneh raised pie, and some other luxuries of the kind sold by Fort- num and Mason in Piccadilly. Wine and spirits were also GOMIIGDOG SS (C(O)