light the lodgers to bed, was Ben's regular task--from eleven at
night till three during the week, and until four on the Sunday
morning.

At this summons, one or two who had become drowsy through the powerful
influence of the pipe or pot, roused themselves upon their
legs--stretched their arms out, and yawned, which was as much as to
say, "they would follow." Ben took the hint, and moved on with his
lantern, like an ostler leading horses to the stable, to show to which
house in the building, and to what room, they were to repose their
precious selves.

[Illustration]

CHAPTER X.

THE RETURN;--AND A LITTLE UNKNOWN.

The kitchen was again getting crowded. The fire once more gave notice
that it was busy with chops and steaks; and as for the gambling-table,
it had literally become thronged. The bawlers of catch-penny papers,
or "booksellers," as they styled themselves, were now beginning to
make their appearance, in parties of three or four; every one having a
copy of the news he had been so loudly proclaiming stuck in the front
of his hat, with that awful word, "murder," printed in large letters
as the head-line; or the more melancholy announcement of the dying
speech of one John So-and-so. They busied themselves in arranging
their papers and dividing the gains.

We have before noticed that these people have partners or mates. A
quarrel was now about to take place between a publisher and his Co.
The Co. swearing that the principal was going to put him in the hole
(cheat him); but after a recasting up of accounts, business was at
length amicably adjusted. These lung-labourers then threw away all
further care for the night, and each sought after his own individual
amusement--as smoking, eating, gambling, and larking.

A singular being now entered the kitchen--one who would have afforded
a fine treat to such observers as Sir Walter and the American
Irving--those accurate delineators of the human race. Such places as
these, we have before observed, teem with originality; they, in fact,
run wild (if we may so use the expression) with character.

The man, (for the creature was in masculine garb,) was between four
and five feet high; he was long armed, and one leg was rather longer
than the other, which caused one of his shoulders to rise a little
when he walked or stood, and which gave his shoulders, which were
naturally broad, a very square appearance.

He was dressed in one of those flash coats already des