ake him up directly, you scoundrel,' shouted the gentleman,
'or else, by ---- I'll report you.' The policeman laughed, and walked
away, leaving the swells swearing like good-uns."

The youth, whom we have before noticed as being partial to a drowsy
life, now put in his word, and gave his affirmation as to the lenity
of the police. His beat as he called it, was between the foot of
Ludgate Hill and Blackfriars Bridge, "and neither the man who formerly
looked about for the people there, nor his predecessor, ever once
interrupted him in his laudable endeavours to collect pence, although
he daily cadged in the very face of the guardian of the public."

It was now admitted by the whole of the company that only keep off any
glaring annoyance, and the police would never say you did wrong.

"Well, well," observed Jack, "I believe, after all, London is still
the place. I was once put into limbo in Norfolk, fourteen days, for
simply asking a gentleman for a little money, and ---- me, if the
constables there won't swear that old Belzebub is white, sooner than
they will let a man clear. And now," said he, shaking the ashes out of
his pipe, "I must to work once more, or else there will be short
allowance to-morrow, I know."

At this there was a general movement among the company; even the
sluggard himself raised up his heavy lump of a body, as if necessity
had just given him a call,--yawned, and fumbled with his hands about
his head and breast. For, be it known, that those ease-loving people
have as great a respect for the Sabbath, as Sir Andrew Agnew himself;
not that they care anything for such a place as a church, but for that
inherent dislike which the whole tribe have to anything in the shape
of labour, and which induces them to make an extra push on a Saturday
night, in order that they may enjoy the Sunday as a holiday, with the
rest of the labouring classes. It must likewise not be forgotten, that
the police are rather indulgent on a Saturday night, but more
watchful on the Lord's day.

"Where shall we stand?" demanded a tape and thimble seller to a dealer
in matches. "Tottenham Court, or Clare Market."

"Clare Market, to be sure!" answered the other; "and we will have a
drop of rum at the new gin-shop. I had half a pint there this morning
with Morgan, and it was prime."

"Come, Blacksmith," (the name given to the fellow whom we had
designated the sloth,) said a half-naked lad, with a strong Irish
accent, "Come, boy, c