Alfred de Rosann — page 66: what you’re looking at

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

‘ : ALFRED DE ROSANN. 57 the diminutive Frenchman with the ground. Belle- Rose started up, his face purple, and his eyes flashing fire: but the timely interference of a policeman put an end to the warfare, and obliged the offending and the offended parties to follow him to the Mansion House, where the Lord Mayor was sitting at the moment on the magisterial bench, in order to dis- patch a few cases of trivial consequence. ‘The police- officer stated the position in which he discovered the two belligerents ; and the city-monarch proceeded to investigate the case. | ‘‘ What is your name!” said he, addressing the Englishman. _ ‘ Daniel Higgins, please your lordship,’’ was the reply, accompanied by a respectful salutation. “Well, then, Mr. Daniel Higgins,’ continued the Lord Mayor, with an emphasis that created a general titter in the court, “ you will be so kind as to state simply, and in as few words as possible, the origin of the dispute.”’ “Why, your lordship,’ answered Mr. Higgins, scratching his head, and winking his left eye, “Iam a peaceable citizen, wot deals in the grocery-line, and I livesin Mark-lane. Having some business on Corn- hill this morning, I sallies forth, and bends my way towards the place of rendi-woo (rendezvous) ; but as I was summat too early, and as Mister Michael Lob- kins, the tanner, whom I expected to meet, wasn’t yet arrived, I says to myself, says I, ‘ Let us go and take a bason of soup,’ says I, ‘at Birch’s; cos vy, I always patronises the Cock, and this time we’ll give t?other a chance. Live and letlive,’saysI. So with this here intention I goes to Birch’s, and orders a bason of hox-tail, which is my favourite beverage, with a little drop of hiced punch to wash it down. Now, my Lord Mayor, there ain’t a more quieter and tranquiller person in existence than your humble servant as is speaking: I seldom opens my mouth ; and when I does, my language is as concise as pos- sible.’’ CORMICLOO© S (E©)