352 City Sketches. 



" They'll be hack in half an hour,'' said the porter, " they told me 

 to order half-a-dozen of wine from the Sun, and they're coming with 

 Mr. Downey to drink it." 

 " Where is Mr. Miggle ?" 



" Oh ! he's gone for good he's packed off, I fancy ; I heard 'em 

 say they didn't want him any longer." 



" Dick," said Mr. Brown, in a voice of strong emotion, " how long 

 have you been here ?" 



" Why nearly two months," answered Dick, " and it's the queer- 

 est place I was ever at in all my born days. Somehow, I think, 

 Mr. Brown, all's not right here." 

 " What do you mean, Dick?" faltered Brown. 

 " I mean as I think, they're rum ones, but you're a gentleman," 

 said the porter. 



" Here, take these two sovereigns, Dick," said Brown suddenly; 



" you must conceal me in the warehouse somewhere : I mean to see 



the end of this night's business. Why the warehouse is nearly empty." 



" I believe you, it is," said the man grieved, " all but these blessed 



bales, full of sawdust, and old rags and such like." 



Mounted, however, upon one of these inexplicable bales which 

 commanded a view, through a ventilator, of the counting-house, sat 

 Mr. Brown motionless, as though he had been stuck thereto with 

 adhesive plaster, and awaiting the arrival of his respectable partners. 

 They came at last, accompanied by their friend Mr. Downey. 

 " You may go, Dick," said Mr. Storks, " we shan't want you any 

 more to-night;" and as Dick departed, and the gentlemen entered 

 the counting house, Mr. Brown verily thought that his heart was 

 bent upon breaking his ribs. 



It was not long before these convivial souls were seated round a 

 small table over a glass of wine. 



" Well, these bills all fall due on the day after to-morrow," re- 

 marked Storks. *' About six thousand odd, no trifle." " For Brown 

 to take up, 7 ' added Hookem. 



" Ha I ha !'' laughed Downey. " I think we have physicked him." 

 " I wi.3h we could have drawn old mother Softun,'' said Hookem. 

 " That was unfortunate, certainly,'' said Storks, " but never mind, 

 ten thousand is not so bad a haul.'' 



" Where shall we be this time to-morrow night?'' said Hookem. 

 " Why, I rather think, at Liverpool,'' replied Downey. " The 

 vessel sails at 4 p. m." 



Mr. Brown has since stated, that he never could precisely recollect 

 how he left the warehouse on that evening, and whether or no he 

 took the shortest cut to the Mansion House. He, however, distinctly 

 remembers his interview with the Lord Mayor, who, giving instruc- 

 tions, and a slip of paper to three respectable looking individuals, 

 requested them to accompany him to Wood Street, Cheapside. 



Messrs. Storks, Hookem, and Downey were taken into custody, and 

 either being unable to explain the nature of their complicated mercan- 

 tile transactions, or his lordship being too obtuse to comprehend such 

 involved details of business, they were sent to prison, and in due time 

 brought before a self-willed judge, and a pig-headed jury. 



It is distressing to be compelled to state, in conclusion, that these 

 highly respectable men were desired to embark immediately for the 

 extremely fine and salubrious climate of New South Wales. 



