Page:The London Guide and Stranger's Safeguard.djvu/142

126 for accommodation, and what you may drink,—which, if you refuse to pay for, you get kicked and abused by the bully, who is always in attendance, and understands the use of his fists. The same fellow contrives, too, to give you a good character into the street, especially if you have taken your cups, so that you may be way-laid, hustled, or tripped up, or knocked down, and robbed.

You are under a mistake if you suppose behaving handsome to the girl, will protect you from this last act of violence; not always so, but on the contrary, the display of your property, or the exercise of your benevolence, proves you to be a flat, and they take advantage accordingly of your imbecility. The best way is, to plead a vacuity of purse, combined with the (pretended) wish to contribute hereafter more to her ease and comfort, by a larger douceur, but that present circumstances prevent it. A large promise goes farther than a small performance, with such people.

At times, the importunities for relief from the night-walkers, descend so low as a few pence, for immediate sustenance, or rise to a glass of wine. In case of the first, they take what you give; and while laughing at your credulity, make