ve an agreeable, if not a very useful companion in our present
enterprise, I did not hesitate to present him to Echo and Transit, who,
upon my very flattering introduction, received him graciously; although
Bob hinted he was rather _too old_ for a _play-fellow_, and Echo
whispered me to keep a _sharp lookout_, as he strongly suspected he was
a _staff officer_ of the _new Greek corps of Sappers and Miners_. In
London you can neither rob nor be robbed genteelly without a formal
introduction: how Echo had contrived it I know not, but we were very
politely ushered into the grand club-room, a splendid apartment of
considerable extent, with a bow-window in front, exactly facing White's.

To speak correctly of the elegance and taste displayed in the
decorations and furniture, not omitting the costly sideboard of
richly-chased plate, I can only say it rivalled any thing I had ever
before witnessed, and was calculated to impress the young mind with the
most extravagant ideas of the wealth and magnificence of the members or
_committee_. The Honourable Mr. B----, one of the brothers of the Earl
of R----, was the _procureur_ to whom, I found, we were indebted, for
the present _honour_--a gay man, of some fashionable notoriety, whose
fortune is said to have suffered severely by his attachment to the
_orthodox orgies_ at the once celebrated Gothic Hall, when Parson John
Ambrose used to officiate as the presiding minister. "Here he is a
member of the committee," said Crony, "and, with his brother and the
old Lord F----, the Marquis H----, Colonel C----, and the Earl of G----,
forms the _secret directory_ of the New Club, which is considered almost
as good a thing as a Mexican mine; for, if report speaks truly, the
amount ~332~~of the profits in the last season exceeded one hundred
thousand pounds, after payment of expenses." A sudden crash in the
street at this moment drew the attention of all to the window, where an
accident presented a very ominous warning to those within _(see plate)_.
"A regular break down," said Echo. "_Floored_" said Transit, "_but
not much the matter_." "I beg your pardon, sir," said a wry-mouthed
portly-looking gentleman, who stood next to Bob; "it is a very _awkward_
circumstance to have occurred just here: I'll bet ten to one it spoils
all the _play_ to-night; and if any of those newspaper fellows get to
hear of it, _Fishmongers' Hall_ and its members will figure in print
again to-morrow;" and with that he bu