"The room I told you of, or the public room, is all I've to offer you," replied Grab, somewhat doggedly--"and you needn't cry out before you're hurt; for it may be your friends will bail you out before the night--before much harm's done!" His wretched companions continued silent for the remainder of the journey, till the coach drew up opposite the door of the house of which they had been speaking. It was about half-way up Chancery-Lane, on the right-hand side as you entered from the Strand. 'T was a small, narrow, dingy-looking house, at the corner of a miserable court. The solitary window, level with the door, was strongly secured within by thick perpendicular iron bars. The outer door, at the top of a flight of about a dozen well-worn steps, stood open, leaving exposed to view an inner door, at about a couple of yards' distance from the outer one; and on this inner door was a brass plate bearing the terrifying name-- "G R A B." The upper part of the door was of glass, and secured on the inside, like the window, by strong iron bars. Aubrey's soul sank within him as his eye took in these various points of the dismal building--the very first which he had ever been _compelled to enter_. The follower, immediately on the coach drawing up, jumped down, and running up the steps of the house, knocked at the inner door, and hurrying back, opened the coach-door, and let down the steps. "Now, Jarvey--what's the damage?" inquired Grab, before any of them got out. "Six shillings, your honor." "You must tip, sir," quoth Grab to Mr. Aubrey--who thereupon counted out all the silver he had except one solitary sixpence, and they descended, followed up the steps of the house closely by Grab. Their hearts failed them, as they heard the sound of heavy jingling keys from within opening the door; and the next moment they stood within a short, narrow, and dark passage--the sallow ill-looking man who had opened the door instantly closing, barring, and locking it upon them. "This here's the public room," quoth Grab, with the confident air of a man who feels in his own house; and, half opening a door on his left--they caught a glimpse of a number of men--some smoking; others sitting with their feet on the table, reading the newspapers; others playing at cards; and almost all of them drinking, and either laughing, talking, or singing. "Now, sir--does this _here_ suit your fancy?" inquired Grab, rather sharply. Mr. Aubrey felt his wife leaning heavily on his arm. "Mercy! I shall faint! I feel choked!"--she whispered. "Show us instantly upstairs, to your private room--cost what it may," said Mr. Aubrey, hastily. "It's only fair to tell you, sir, you pay in advance--and for the whole day, though you should be out again in a quarter of an hour's time--it's the rule of the house." "Show us upstairs, sir, without delay," said Mr. Aubrey, peremptorily.