Page:Paul Clifford Vol 1.djvu/61

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PAUL CLIFFORD.
31

says as ow 'tis not respectable, and you only likes men to wisit the Mug!"

"And I doesn't like all of them as comes here!" answered the dame: "'specially for Paul's sake; but what can a lone 'oman do? Many's the gentlemen highwaymen wot comes here, whose money is as good as the clerk's of the parish. And when a bob[1] is in my hand, what does it sinnify whose hand it was in afore?"

"That's what I calls being sinsible and practical," said Dummie, approvingly. "And arter all, though you 'as a mixture like, I does not know a haleouse, vere a cove is better entertained, nor meets of a Sunday more iligant company, than the Mug!"

Here the conversation; which the reader must know had been sustained in a key inaudible to a third person, received a check from Mr. Peter Mac Grawler, who, having finished his reverie and his tankard, now rose to depart. First, however, approaching Mrs. Lobkins, he observed that he had gone on credit for some days, and demanded the amount of his bill. Glancing towards certain chalk

  1. Shilling.