"And {216}they call him Punch. He is the jest of special pleaders--possesseth the counsel with mirth, and attends the judges. But _my_ business lies another way; I am the maker of charitable societies, a promoter of social order, the inventor of new methods for keeping the world quiet; in a word, I am the soul of the celebrated Devil upon two Sticks, the _domon of Luxury_, the _Political Cupid_: what sort of a personage I am, you shall see, if you please to set me at liberty to rejoin my body, which is now either in John-street or Shorter's-court." "Good _Mr. Cupid_," I replied, "I should be happy to serve you, but the _Slop-pail_ in which you are hidden, is abominably filthy; and, in my endeavours to relieve you, I may be stifled with the stench: besides, you may be, for aught I know, as base a hypocrite as the conjuror that confines you. I should wish to know how you got in, and by what power he holds you, if you are not as vile as he is." "Ah, do not leave me! For the sake of humanity release me," screamed the _Spirit_. He had scarcely uttered these words, when Dr. Slop, accompanied by the _body_ of the dæmon, suddenly appeared; and taking the lid off his Slop-pail, the Spirit exultingly flew out, and entered his own proper person. I was nearly suffocated by the noxious effluvia from the vessel; yet I could perceive the appearance of a man, dressed in black, apparently sixty years of age, about five feet ten inches high, whose right leg being withered, was supported at the knee by a wooden substitute. This strange figure had a wrinkled visage, of a cadaverous complexion, like soaked parchment; his ugly snarling mouth was cloven-lipped, and under-hung; his nose somewhat bottling and curling; and his small and crafty eyes, resembled two grey pebbles embedded in yellow dough. The top of his head was bald; the hair at the back and sides, thin, and cut short, was pomatumed and powdered. He supported himself by a crutch, which appeared to me, a gallows; and crossing Fleet-street with rapid strides, this _New Devil upon two Sticks_, ascending the steps of Walker's Hotel, by the aid of Dr. _Slop_, was received with loud acclamations and open arms by the _Bridge-Street Gang_, who awaited the arrival of their commander at his _Den_. "I {217} am," I replied. "But pray how came you in the Slop-pail?" "Ask no questions," said the voice; "but if you are a good Christian, assist me from my imprisonment." "What are you?" I inquired, somewhat confused at this uncommon adventure. "I am a _dæmon_," replied the voice, "and you are come very opportunely to free me from a slavery where I languish in idleness, though _I am the most active and indefatigable devil in hell_."