dialogue among this class, which is of
the lowest of the low, in the language of polished society; we will
therefore, in lieu of the emphatic words with which they generally
garnish their conversation, use the delicate but meaning dashes ----
----.

"Harry," says the tar, "have you not been at work to-day, that you
look so devilish blue?" (working, by the bye, is the honest word used
by those honest people for begging, they having as correct an idea of
what is meant by respectable terms as their more respectable fellow
men).

"Work! Aye," replied Harry, "I went out this morning with Williams. We
worked all the way to Piccadilly, then down the Haymarket, along Pall
Mall, and were, just beginning with some ladies in the Park, when we
were stopped by a policeman, and very nigh got tapped, and ---- ----
if I could raise heart to cadge any more."

"Aye," cried Jack, "you were always a hen-hearted dog; but,
howsomever, I had a brush to-day, myself with one of those land
sharks. As I was crossing St. Martin's-lane, I saw a carriage full of
ladies standing at a shop door. Up I stumped, and was just about to
doff my castor (hat), when a slap on the shoulder, with 'what do you
want there?' made me turn round; and there I met the ugly mug of a
devil in blue. 'What's that to you?' says I. 'Oh, I thought you were
going to beg.' 'Did you,' says I, 'if I had, I would have taken care
not to have been such a ---- fool, as to let you see me.' 'Well, well,
go on, go on,' says he. I stepped on one side, and watched till my
master had steered off, and then I about again, and, blow me, if one
of the young ladies--and a prime un she was!--did not tip me a tanner
(sixpence)."

A remarkably fine-looking man, with nicely trimmed whiskers and a long
white apron, who was regaling himself with a plate of sausages to his
evening souchong, here observed that there were yet some good fellows
among the police. "For instance," he said, "it was only the other day,
as I was working at the Middle Row, Holborn, which is my regular beat,
I cadged a couple of swells. They bid me begone, or else they would
call for the police. I laughed at them, and still tried it on, when
one of them called to a blue devil, 'Take this fellow into custody,'
says he, 'and I will appear against him to-morrow morning.' 'What's he
been doing?' demanded the policeman. 'Begging,' answered the other.
'Oh, is that all?--well, if you will go on, sir, he will not trouble
you.' 'T