Page:The London Guide and Stranger's Safeguard.djvu/80

64 shall dine with me. Between you and me the occasion deserves a damned good dinner; however, of that more anon."

Who would not concede an hour upon such an occasion! A good dinner, an agreeable companion, and two dull friends to give audience to all you may utter, could not be unacceptable to a young gentleman full of spirit, who was almost alone, except when visited by the lawyers concerning the family property which, by the deaths of his elder brother and father, had devolved upon him to manage.

Before they sit down to dinner, the reader must be told that the dashing blade of the stilish gig and groom was a black leg! His two humdrum acquaintance, as he termed them, were likewise two sharpers from the same hot bed of insidious robbery—St. James's. And he was under the necessity of postponing the dinner hour, that he might have time to send for them, as probably they were then in bed! And even when they came, another couple were sent for, the booty was expected to be so great!

The dinner over, our party of four resolved on a game at whist, and ordered a couple of packs of cards. But no: a person in the house knew one of the couple, who had come in, to have been