.
His appearance was grotesque in the extreme, and could only be equalled
by the eccentricities of his manners and conversation. He was dressed
in a brown coat, close buttoned, over which he had a red camlet or stuff
surtout, apparently the off-cast of some theatrical performer, but with
a determination to appear fashionable; for

"Folks might as well be dead--nay buried too,
As not to dress and act as others do."

He wore mustachios, a pair of green spectacles, and his whole figure was
surmounted with a fur-cap. Taking a seat directly opposite our party
at the same table--"Bring me a pint," said he; and then deliberately
searching his pockets, he produced a short pipe and some tobacco, with
which he filled it--"You see," said he, "I am obliged to smoke according
to the Doctor's orders, for an asthma--so I always smokes three pipes a
day, that's my allowance; but I can eat more than any man in the room,
and can dance, sing, and act--nothing conies amiss to me, all the
players takes their characters from me."

After this introduction--"You are a clever fellow, I'll be bound for
it," said Dashall.

"O yes, I acts Richard the Third sometimes--sometimes Macbeth and
Tom Thumb. I have played before Mr. Kean: then I acted Richard the
Third--'Give me a horse! '--(starting into the middle of the room)--'no,
stop, not so--let me see, let me see, how is it?--ah, this is the
way--Give me a horse--Oh! Oh! Oh!--then you know I dies."--And down he
fell on the floor, which created a general roar of laughter; while
Billy Waters ~121~~struck up, "See the conquering Hero conies!" to the
inexpressible delight of all around him--their feet and hands all going
at the same time.

Mother Mapps dropp'd her pipe, and d----d the weed, it made her sick,
she said.

Limping Billy was also evidently in _queer-street_.

"Come," said Sparkle, "won't you have a drop more?"

"Thank ye, Sir," was the reply; and Sparkle, intent upon having his
gig out, ordered a fresh supply, which soon revived the fallen hero of
Bosworth-field, and Richard was himself again.

"Now," said he, "I'll sing you a song," and immediately commenced as
follows:--

"My name's Hookey Walker, I'm known very well,
In acting and eating I others excel;
The player-folks all take their patterns from me,
And a nice pattern too!--Don't you see? don't you see?
Oh! [_glancing at his fingers_] It will do--it will do