E-text prepared by Ian Deane and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 39932-h.htm or 39932-h.zip: (https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/39932/pg39932-images.html) or (https://www.gutenberg.org/files/39932/39932-h.zip) Transcriber's note: Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). Original spelling variations have not been changed. THE LURE OF OLD LONDON by SOPHIE COLE Author of "A London Posy," "The Loitering Highway," etc. With 8 Illustrations Mills & Boon, Limited 49 Rupert Street London, W. 1 Published 1921 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS FACING PAGE WAX EFFIGIES OF QUEEN ELIZABETH AND CHARLES THE SECOND 16 From a photograph by D. Weller GREAT ST. HELEN'S 47 From a photograph by the Autotype Company THE CHARTERHOUSE 50 From a photograph by the Autotype Company A BIT OF OLD SMITHFIELD 57 From a photograph by the Autotype Company DR. JOHNSON'S HOUSE IN GOUGH SQUARE 69 GREAT CHEYNE ROW AND CARLYLE'S HOUSE 89 From a photograph by Hedderley, circa 1860 THE FOUNDLING HOSPITAL 117 From a photograph by the Autotype Company BERWICK MARKET 136 From a photograph by the Autotype Company TO THE FRIEND WHO WANDERED WITH ME IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF GEORGE AND MRS. DARLING PREFACE People who are kind enough to read my stories sometimes tell me they like them on account of their London atmosphere. This is reassuring, because London is, to me, what "King Charles' head" was to "Mr. Dick," and when my publisher suggested that I should write this volume I mounted my hobby-horse with glee.