Old Saint Paul's A Tale of the Plague and the Fire

to him by the apprentice. Of a selfish nature and ungovernable temper, and seeking only in the pursuit of the grocer's daughter the gratification of his lawless

and scarcely under the governance of reason, he hurried towards Wood-street, resolved to force his way into the house, and see her again, at all hazards. His wild design, however, was fortunately prevented. As he passed the end of the court leading to the an

nning so quickly? I see neither angry father, nor jealous apprentice, a

he gallant that had accompanied him on his first visit to the grocer's shop, and had played his part so adroitly in

ejoined Lydyard. "Has your mistress pla

Wyvil, sternly. "Amabel is attacke

see her. It is one thing to be run through the arm,-which you must own I managed as dexterously as the best master of fe

g," replied Wyvil;

see the frightful ravages made upon her charms by this remorseless disease,-to throw her whole family into consternation, and destroy the

feelings have undergone a total change. If

in your face. No doubt you would marry her, and abandon your design upon the rich heiress, pretty Mistress Ma

lied the other

old; "and the sooner you take the plague the better. It may cure your present brain fever.

ctedly; "I have not yet given up my

the other, "it must be to the pest-house. But

apprentice,"

?" demanded Lydyard,

" replied Wyv

you from the house," rejoined Lydyard. "I am surpr

trick," returned Wyvil. "But the fellow

t be not too precipitate. Since the apprentice has seen you, some alteration may be nece

he left, they entered a spacious room, across which ran a long table, furnishe

velvet shoes of the same colour as the hose, fastened with immense roses; a silver-hilted sword, supported by a broad embroidered silk band; and a cloak and doublet of carnation-coloured velvet, woven with gold, and decorated with innumerable glittering points and ribands. He had a flowing wig of flaxen hair, an

e had drunk, and partly by his losses at play, was equipped in the splendid accoutrements of a captain in the king's body-guard. His left hand convulsively clutched an e

as covered, with a huge black patch; his face was of a deep mulberry colour, clearly attesting his devotion to the bottle; while his nose, which was none of the smallest, was covered with "bubukles, and whelks, and knobs, and flames of fire." He was of the middle size, stoutly built, and given to corpulency, though not so much so as to impair his activity. His attire consisted of a cloak and doublet of scarlet cloth, very much st

rravicin, as Wyvil appeared.

e!" he added, smacking his lips, as he filled a glass from a long-necked bottle on the table; "May the grocer's da

, covering his face with his hands, appeared wrapped in thought. Lydyard took a seat beside him,

oiled in his attempt to carry off the girl. Sedley has won his wager, a

filling a large goblet to the brim, and emptying it at

of cards, and snapping them between his finger

ng man, becoming suddenly pal

fe is beautiful,"

coffers of the widow of Watling-street! she is an ange

en her," said the

arden, at court, and at church. Not seen her! By the one eye of a Cyclops, but I have! You shall hear my description of

by no means displeased

eyes, hair and brows to match, a small foot, a pretty turn-up nose, a dimpling

Disbrowe. "It is plain

clapping his hand furiously upon his sword

sbrowe, hurling a d

chair till it was stopped by the wall. "Death and fiends! I will make

saulted Disbrowe, if Sir Paul had not interposed, a

r revenge in a safe

"as you desire it, I will spare the young man's life. I must w

called to a drawer, who was in attendance, i

dice-box, and, seating himself, spr

nxiously watched his movements, "not with any intention of giving you offence, but to s

Paul," returned Disbrowe, with

ve your losses. I give you a last chance. I will stake all my winnings, nay, double the amount, against your wife. You have a key of the house you inhabit, by whic

y. "I understand that you are a villain. You have ro

calmly; "but let them pass. We will play first, an

key, he threw it on the table. "My life is, in truth, set on the die," he

Parravicin. "I am to be your representativ

w," cried the yo

ght; "the first cast is with

k the dice with a frenzied air, the major and Lydyard drew nea

removed the box. "My honour is s

his turn. "You were a little too hasty," he added, unco

d the young officer, a

ix

ed, took the bo

is clenched hand. "What devil tempted me to my undoing?-My

rravicin, taking up the key, and turnin

beyond endurance, drew his sword, and

efore, declared herself in favour of Parravicin. He disarmed his assailant, who

e knight to Pillichody, as soon as Disbrowe was gone.

ms," replied the major. "Shafts of Cupi

k of it, so far. I'faith, Wyvil, I pity you. To lose a heavy wage

g occurrence. "I have been baffled, not defeated. What say you to an exchange of mistresses? I am so diverted with your adventure, that I am half

ption," returned Parravicin, "but I'll stake Mrs. Disbrowe against Ama

resign Amabel, if I lost. And the

ng pile into his pocket. "Drawer, another bottle of burgund

cried Wyvil, with difficulty repressi

-street," cried Pillichody, draining a

; "and I have drunk wine enough. Do not for

o-morrow, at the Smyrna, to compare notes as to our successes. Before we separate, can I be of any further service to you, Wyvil? I came here to enjoy your triumph; but, egad, I h

ur success with the wife will be commensurate. I require no further assistance. What I have to

l pass by the grocer's shop. I know it well, having passed it a hundr

replied Wyvil. "But I must scale

the rope-ladder," replied Ly

in a corner of the room, and throwing it over his shoulders. "Bombs and

s house was situated in a small street leading out of Piccadilly, but as he could not be quite

ugh Wyvil clapped his hands, blew a shrill whistle, and made other signals, no answer was returned,

s protected by oaken planks, was covered with panels of the same timber, and the projections were supported by heavy beams, embellished with grotesque carvings. Three deeply-embayed windows, having stout wooden bars, filled with minute diamond panes, set in leaden frames, wer

e backyard. To reach it, a court and a narrow alley, leading to an open space surrounded by high walls, had to be traversed. Arrived at this spot, Wyvil threw one end of the rope ladder over the wall, which was about twelve feet high, and speedily succee

in. "We shall find a coach or a chair in Ch

into some scrape, and may need me to help him out of it. Take care of yourself, Parravicin. Bew

watching, and a good catching, as the sentinels were wont to say