ge life, will
at once introduce the reader to the head-quarters of the cadgers--St.
Giles's.

[Illustration]

CHAPTER II.

ST. GILES'S--THE CADGER'S HEAD-QUARTERS.

The house, or rather establishment (for it contains no less than eight
houses, having a moderate-sized court within its boundary, in which
stands a large gas lamp) to which we intend to conduct the reader, is
situate at No. 13, ---- Street, St. Giles's. The proprietor being what
is called a gentleman--a man of property--and, like all men of
property, of course, wishes not to have his name mentioned but in a
respectable way--we therefore, with all respect for the power of
wealth, will accommodate him with a dash.

[Illustration]

This cavern was opened some forty years ago, by a man of the name of
----, a native of that cautious country, "_Canny, tak care o'
yoursel_." The Scotchman, with the characteristic foresight of his
countrymen, soon saw that to set up prudence in the midst of wanton
waste, was a sure and ready way to accumulate the _bawbees_.
Accordingly, he took a shop and house at the aforesaid number, and
commenced giving shelter to the wild and the profligate. Trade
thrived, and, ere long, Sawney had reason to bless the day he crossed
the border. He not only grew a rich but a _braw_ man--put his sons to
respectable professions, and expended as much in setting them up in
the world, as might have made them no common lairds in the land of
thistles, and finally gave up the ghost, breathing his last breath
amidst the air of plenty, leaving his money-making craft to his eldest
son, who still carries on this establishment, as well as two others,
one in the Broadway, St. Giles's, and the other in Long Acre, through
the means of a deputy, and in the deputy's name, while he himself
takes his ease in elegant style, a little way out of town, and is
reputed to be the possessor of a great number of houses besides.

This grand cadging rendezvous, then, is under the superintendence of a
deputy, and is kept up in his name; he is assisted by his wife and
under deputy (men-servants), and a few female domestics. This
man--that is, the leader of the band--hails we believe from
Cambridgeshire. He is of a slight make, with a shrewd cast of the eye.
Formerly he figured in a gentleman's family, and has still much of the
air and dress of a lackey: he is nevertheless well adapted for his
situation; is affable and free, gambles, and is the companion of the