The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 238: what you’re looking at

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

THE KING’S BENCH 221 the window. He listened, and heard the following announce- ment duly and deliberately made: ‘““Oyes! Oyes! Oyes! This is to give notice that if any- body has found an old pair of black breeches, new seated, which was took from the winder of MacHugh the tailor’s room, Number 3 in 10 Staircase, and will bring them to the crier, he shall receive a pot of half-an’-half for his trouble and no questions axed. God save the king! ”’ Old Yorke —for he it was who gave forth this very interesting and exciting announcement — paused for a few moments, cleared his voice from a little huskiness that had seized upon it through too powerful a vociferation, and then communicated another piece of intelligence to the admiring denizens of the Bench: ‘“ Oyes! Ovyes! Oyes! Know ye all whom it may consarn, and take notice, that a Free-and-easy will be held to-night in the Brace, for the benefit of Mr. Peter Sniggles, who had the misiortune to cut his head open by falling dead drunk down No. 10 Staircase. The cheer will be taken by Mr. Joseph Tubbs at eight o’clock precisely, when several comic songs and other wocal harmony will take place. God save the king! ” Old Yorke then passed on from the vicinage of the coffee- house to repeat the announcements in other parts of the building; and the colonel learned from the waiter who brought in his dinner that those announcements were really genuine and seriously meant, and not a mere hoax, as Malpas had at first imagined them to be. Having partaken of his meal, and while sipping the first glass of an execrable pint of port, the colonel was informed by the waiter that a gentleman wished to speak to him. ‘Who is he? ” inquired Malpas. ‘Well, sir, he’s a lawyer as is well known in this here place,’ answered the waiter, ‘‘ and does a sight of business for genelmen in difficulties. He whispered to me that he could get you out of quod in three or four days — ”’ ‘“ Indeed!” ejaculated Malpas, his countenance brighten- ing up. ‘“ What is his name? ”’ “Mr. Joshua Jenkins,’’ answered the waiter. ‘ Shall I tell him to walk in? ”’ “ By all means,” responded the colonel; ‘and bring COMNICOO© ‘S (C(O)