Page:The Sins of the Cities of the Plain.djvu/169

 know where to go to; am living with my father and mother at Greenwich or some out-of-the-way part of London, and only came to the West-End to look about and see the shops and swells, etc,. If a gentleman is very pressing I never consent to anything unless he asks me to accompany him to his house Of chambers. Once got home with him, I say, 'Now, sir, what present are you going to make me?'

"'Stop a bit, my boy, till we see how you please me,' or something very like that is the answer I generally get.

"'No; I'll have it now, or I'll raise the house, you old sod. Do you think I'm a greenhorn? I want a fiver. Don't I know too well that little boys only get five or ten shillings after it's all over? but that won't do for me, so shell out