This did not convey a great deal of information to Jacob Gray, and he waited very anxiously to hear what further remarks concerning his thoughts and objects in this world might fall from the speaker who had so cavalierly and off handedly settled his destination in the next. Nor was he disappointed, for Mr. Elias, having no one to talk to, addressed himself, in the following strains:— “Well, here’s a precious old crib to be shut up in. Upon my soul, it’s too bad of the governor. And no dinner—not a drop of nothing, no how what so ever. How would he like it, I wonder? Why, not at all, to be sure. The fifty pounds is something—but it’s all moonshine if the fellow don’t come, or that ere gal as he talks on, as may make her blessed appearance in a masculine sort o’ way. Well, I only hopes she may, that’s all. Won’t I give that Stephy a precious nob on his cocoa-nut, if he makes it very late afore he comes? Curse this place, it’s as dull as a sermon, and about as pleasant and lively-looking as mud in a wine-glass. I don’t like these kind of goes at all. Give me fun, and a hunt after such a rollicking, slashing blade as Jack Sheppard. Ah, he’s the fellow for my money. I love that blade. He’s got a voice, too, like a flock o’ nightingales, that he has. Shall I ever hear him sing that song again as I learnt of him by listening to him in quod, and all the while as I was taken up with the tune, he was a filing away at his darbies, bless him! Oh, he’s a rum un!” Elias then delighted himself and astonished Jacob Gray, by singing the following song; which was in great vogue at the time:— What Knight’s Like the Knight of the Road? “What knight’s like the knight of the road? Who lives so well as he? The proudest duke don’t lead A life so brave and free. Heighho! How the maidens sigh, As he dashes proudly by! And there’s not a gentle heart of all— Let weal or woe betide— That would not leap with dear delight To be his happy bride. “The day goes down on Hounslow-heath, The night wind sighs amain; Hurrah! Hurrah, for the road! For now begins his reign. Heighho! How the ladies cry, As they see his flashing eye. And there’s not a pair of cherry lips, Of high or low degree, Would scorn a kiss from the knight of the road, Who’s welcome as he’s free.” As Mr. Elias, between the stanzas of his song, whistled an accompaniment, in which there were a great number of shakes, trills, and what musicians call variations which means something which is not at all connected with the tune, the whole affair took some considerable time in execution; and Jacob Gray stood upon the ladder in a perfect agony of annoyance until it was over.