Captain D--v--s, who now is a chick of the game, For altho' in high feather, the odds will soon tame; And the Marquis of Bl--ndf--rd, who touch'd 'em up rare For a thousand in Bennet Street (all on the square); There's Li--d and C--m--ck, who'd a marine to be, For none drills a guinea more ably than he; There's a certain rum Baronet, every one knows, Who on Saturday nights to the Two Sevens{1} goes, With J---- and Cl----, Billy W---- and two more, So drunk, that they keep merry hell in a roar. Long D--ll--n, their C--rt--r, a son of a gun; Bill B----, the Doctor, that figure of fun; Bankers, Dealers and Demireps, Cuckolds in droves, A T--l--r, a T--nf--Id, a Cr--kf--Id, and CI--ves; A H--rtf--rd, a Y--rm--th, of frail ones ten score; X--ft--e, S--br--gt and E--ll--s, and still many more.” “Come along,” said Merrywell, “let us see what they are made of; are either of you known? for Cerberus, who keeps the door, is d----d particular, in consequence of some rows they have recently had, and the devil is careful to pick his customers.” “To pluck them, you mean,” said Tom; “but perhaps you are in possession of the pass-word--if so, lead on.” 1 The _Two Sevens_--A nick-name for the well-known house, No. 77, Jermyn Street. ~196~~Tallyho had already heard so much about Hells, Gambling-houses, and Subscription-houses, that he was all anxiety for an interior view, and the same feeling animated Mortimer. As they were about to enter, they were not a little surprised to find that houses which are spoken of so publicly, have in general the appearance of private dwellings, with the exception that the hall-door is left ajar during the hours usually devoted to play, like those of trap-cages, to catch the passing pigeons, and to obviate the delay which might be occasioned by the necessity of knocking--a delay which might expose the customers to the glances of an unsuspecting creditor--a confiding father, or a starving wife; and, as Merrywell observed, “It was to be understood that the entrance was well guarded, and that no gentleman could be permitted to risk or lose his money, without an introduction.” A very necessary precaution to obviate the danger of being surprised by the officers of the law; but that rule is too easily to be broken, for any gentleman whom the door-keeper has sufficient reason to think is not an Officer of Justice, finds the avenues to these labyrinths too ready for his admission. [Illustration: page196 A Modern Hell]