400 Asmodeus and the Incognito. 



Emboldened by this address, I took my seat on the right of Asmo- 

 deus, who having made a sign to our conductors, in a moment we 

 ascended at an immense elevation. I was highly delighted at the 

 prospect which now presented itself before my eyes, and as we were 

 over London Asmodeus called my attention on what was beneath 

 us. With the naked eye I thought it a beautiful panorama, but in 

 making use of the telescope I was almost horror-struck by the strik- 

 ing contrast of luxury and wretchedness, of industry and slothful- 

 ness, I beheld. I could easily see some of the privileged few lying 

 still in their splendid downy beds, while others of the same cast were 

 preparing for their sumptuous breakfast. On the other hand, 

 crowds of the unfortunate many, exposed to the inclemency of the 

 season, were working very hard for their scanty pittance, while their 

 families had not the common necessaries of life at their miserable 

 abodes. Here fearful misers were counting and idolizing their trea- 

 sures. There heartless usurers were bargaining with the needy and 

 improvident in order to assist them in their distress by exacting the 

 moderate interest of 200 per cent, on the money they kindly supplied 

 them with. I recognised several preachers of morality and continence 

 in places of infamy and debauch. Many profligate noble and fashion- 

 able gamblers had not yet gone to bed, and appeared in a state of mind 

 bordering on desperation in consequence of the losses they had sus- 

 tained during the night. The debtors' prisons were crammed with 

 inmates of both sexes, apparently thoughtless of their dreadful and 

 degrading situation, because they were cheerfully conversing, break- 

 fasting, laughing, and smoking. The roads of the environs leading 

 to London seemed like streams pouring their waters into the great 

 ocean of the metropolis, whose streets were crowded with persons 

 running in all directions, while omnibuses, stage-coaches, hackney- 

 coaches, and cabs of all shapes and sizes were driving at a furious 

 rate without the least consideration for the lives of their fellow-crea- 

 tures. Thousands of English and foreign vessels sailed up and down 

 the wealthy Thames, while the counting-houses of the City began 

 their business. In the inns of courts all was on the move. Clerks 

 filling their bags with briefs and pleas ready to start for the hall ; 

 briefless barristers, cursing their stars, hastened towards the same 

 place in the hope of obtaining a small fee for a motion of some un- 

 defended cause ; solicitors were treating and drilling the witnesses 

 that must appear in court in behalf of their clients. Plaintiffs, de- 

 fendants, and their attorneys were in deep consultation with their 

 counsel, who, notwithstanding the large fees endorsed on the briefs, 

 had not yet opened them. While I was thus occupied, Asmodeus 

 interrupted my reflections by asking, " What do you think of all that ?" 



" Wonderful and appalling'." rejoined I. 



" Appalling, indeed, but not wonderful," said Asmodeus. " How- 

 ever, as you cannot understand many of the scenes you have con- 

 templated from hence, I will explain to you a few of them. Look 

 there,'* continued he, pointing to me a diminutive, black-haired indi- 

 vidual, engaged in earnest conversation with two other persons in a 

 back-parlour near Bloomsbury Square. 



" Who are they ? " asked I. 



