folly in suffering himself to be thus entrapped kept Wood for a short
time silent. When he could find words, he tried by the most urgent
solicitations to prevail upon the constable to let him out. But threats
and entreaties--even promises were ineffectual; and the unlucky captive,
after exhausting his powers of persuasion, was compelled to give up the
point.
The room in which he was detained--that lately occupied by the Mohocks,
who, it appeared, had been allowed to depart,--was calculated to inspire
additional apprehension and disgust. Strongly impregnated with the
mingled odours of tobacco, ale, brandy, and other liquors, the
atmosphere was almost stifling. The benches running round the room,
though fastened to the walls by iron clamps, had been forcibly wrenched
off; while the table, which was similarly secured to the boards, was
upset, and its contents--bottles, jugs, glasses, and bowls were broken
and scattered about in all directions. Everything proclaimed the
mischievous propensities of the recent occupants of the chamber.
Here lay a heap of knockers of all sizes, from the huge lion's head to
the small brass rapper: there, a collection of sign-boards, with the
names and calling of the owners utterly obliterated. On this side stood
the instruments with which the latter piece of pleasantry had been
effected,--namely, a bucket filled with paint and a brush: on that was
erected a trophy, consisting of a watchman's rattle, a laced hat, with
the crown knocked out, and its place supplied by a lantern, a campaign
wig saturated with punch, a torn steen-kirk and ruffles, some half-dozen
staves, and a broken sword.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account