The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 254: what you’re looking at

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

THE KING’S BENCH 227 ‘“Oh, yes, sir, I am looking sharp enough,’ responded the waiter; ‘“‘ but I want to see the money before I serve the lush.’’ ‘“ What cursed infernal impudence! ”’ ejaculated the one who had first spoken. ‘‘ Who the devil ever thinks of asking a gentleman for money? For my part,’’ he added, ‘““T have left my purse up in my room, which is deuced imprudent, by the bye, seeing it is full of gold and bank- notes.”’ ‘‘ And as for my purse,’’ remarked another of the delectable party, fumbling in his pocket, “it has got through a hole down into the linings of my breeches, and I sha’n’t be able to fish it up until I take my small-clothes off. It’s deuced provoking, for I’ve got at least five pounds of small change in it, and should have been delighted to stand treat.”’ ‘Well, upon my word, we seem to be out of luck,” ex- claimed the third member of the party, “‘ for I’ve got nothing but a bank-note for a hundred guineas,” he continued, drawing out an old brown silk purse with a playbill rustling in one end; “ and there’s no chance of getting change for such a heavy piece of flimsy in this place to-night.” ‘Deuce take it!’’ cried a fourth; ‘if I had known that you were all exposed to such inconveniences as these, I would not have lent that twenty guineas just now to Lord Smigsmag. But really it was impossible to refuse his lordship under the circumstances.” “Oh,” exclaimed the fifth, ‘‘ don’t make yourselves uneasy. I’ve got plenty of money about me,’’ and thus speaking, he thrust his hands with all confidence into his breeches’ pocket. Then suddenly starting as if alarmed by a chimney falling or a cry of fire, he vociferated, ‘‘ By heavens! I have lost my purse, I have lost my purse! ”’ and he affected to be in a tremendous rage. ‘““ Now, was there ever anything so regularly unfortunate? ” exclaimed the sixth member of this precious group, drawing forth the remains of a cheque-book from which a great num- ber of drafts had been cut out. ‘‘ Here am I, not only able but also willing to write you a cheque for a cool hundred or two, just as you like; but now it is after business hours in Lombard Street, and so it’s all the same as if I had not a, twopenny-piece in all the world at my banker’s.’’ ‘Well, it raly is wery provoking,” exclaimed the waiter, CONNIE OOO a <S (CO)