102 STABLE SECRETS. 



CHAPTER XXI. 



In a neighbourhood of the metropolis, so confined that the 

 smoke never effected an escape, and the fresh air was never 

 known to enter, a small hostelry was known by the name of 

 "Paddy's Goose." The frequenters and patrons of this small 

 hostelry bore the reputation of possessing the most limited 

 ideas concerning the rights of property ; and looking back, 

 perhaps, to those good old times with veneration, when feudal 

 rights were founded on moral wrongs, carried out the prin- 

 ciple of "taking" when the opportunity presented itself, and 

 "keeping" whatever fell into their hands. As with a veil 

 of the dirtiest kind, a yellow fog, sending forth a scent of 

 anything but "roses tipped with morning dew," dimly con- 

 cealed, but did not hide, the surrounding charms of " Paddy's 

 Goose." The orange peel and oyster shells, alternately ob- 

 structing the inky and sluggish stream crawling like an idle 

 leech before the door, appeared to possess resources which* 

 may be described as inexhaustible. The supply was always 

 more than equal to the demand : hence the great accumulation 

 of both. A gas lamp flared above the portal, making the 

 surrounding darkness, if anything, more visible, and light, air, 

 and space seemed, in the immediate vicinity of " Paddy's 

 Goose," to be condensed to homoeopathic quantities. 



Within, as without, the small hostelry was dingy in the 

 extreme. In the best parlour — an apartment measuring six 

 feet by four — the fog had evidently fraternised with some 

 fine, old, stale tobacco smoke, strongly flavoured with sour 

 beer. Upon the walls were suspended faded and fly-spotted 

 illustrations of " The Dog Billy " performing his wonderful 

 match ; " The Putney Pet, champion of the Heavy Weights ;" 

 " Bos Podgers, champion of the Middle Weights ; " " Spider 

 Jack, champion of the Light Weights," and other celebrities 



