"Stop that whimperin!" says a ruffianly bystander, who orders a
coloured boy to let down her hair. He obeys the summons; it falls in
thick, black, undulating tresses over her neck and shoulders. A few
moments more, and she resumes a calm appearance, looks resolutely
upon her auditors, with indignation and contempt pictured in her
countenance.
"She'll soon get over that!" ejaculates another bystander, as he
smooths the long beard on his haggard face. "Strip her down!" The
request is no sooner made, than Mr. O'Brodereque mounts the stand to
perform the feat. "Great country this, gentlemen!" he speaks, taking
her by the shoulders.
"All off! all off, general!" is the popular demand.
The sensitive nature of the innocent girl recoils; she cringes from
his touch; she shudders, and vainly attempts to resist. She must
yield; the demand is imperative. Her dress falls at Mr.
O'Brodereque's touch. She stands before the gazing crowd, exposed to
the very thighs, holding the loose folds of her dress in her hands.
There is no sympathy for those moistened eyes; oh, no! it is a
luscious feast-puritans have no part in the sin-for those who, in
our land of love and liberty, buy and sell poor human nature, and
make it food for serving hell.
Naked she stands for minutes; the assembled gentlemen have feasted
their eyes,--good men have played the part of their good natures.
General O'Brodereque, conscious of his dignity, orders her to be
taken down. The waiter performs the duty, and she is led out midst
the acclamations and plaudits of the crowd, who call for the raffle.
Mr. O'Brodereque hopes gentlemen are satisfied with what they have
seen, and will pledge his honour that the pony and dog are quite as
sound and healthy as the wench whose portions they have had a chance
to shy; and for which-the extra sight-they should pay an extra
treat. This, however, his generosity will not allow him to stand
upon; and, seeing how time is precious, and the weather warm, he
hopes his friends will excuse the presence of the animals, take his
word of honour in consideration of the sight of the wench.
"Now, gentlemen," he says, "the throws are soon to commence, and all
what ain't put down the tin better attend that ar' needful
arrangement, quicker!"
As the general concludes this very significant invitation, Dan
Bengal, Anthony Romescos, and Nath Nimrod, enter together. Their
presence creates some little commotion, for Romescos is known to be
turbulent, and very uncertain when liquor flows freely, which is the
case at present.
"I say, general!-old hoss! I takes all the chances what's left,"
Romescos shouts at the top of his voice. His eyes glare with
anxiety,--his red, savage face, doubly sun-scorched, glows out as he
elbows his way through the crowd up to the desk, where sits a
corpulent clerk. "Beg your pardon, gentlemen: not so fast, if you
please!" he says, entering names in his ledger, receiving money,
"doing the polite of the establishment."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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