Part 13 (1/2)

When the slow coach paused, and the gemmen stormed, I bore the brunt; And the only sound which my grave lips formed Was ”blunt,”--still ”blunt”!

Oh, those jovial days are ne'er forgot!

But the tape lags-- When I be's dead, you'll drink one pot To poor old Bags!

CHORUS. To poor old Bags!

”Ay, that we will, my dear Bagshot,” cried Gentleman George, affectionately; but observing a tear in the fine old fellow's eye, he added: ”Cheer up! What, ho! cheer up! Times will improve, and Providence may yet send us one good year, when you shall be as well off as ever.

You shakes your poll. Well, don't be humdurgeoned, but knock down a gemman.”

Das.h.i.+ng away the drop of sensibility, the veteran knocked down Gentleman George himself.

”Oh, dang it!” said George, with an air of dignity, ”I ought to skip, since I finds the lush; but howsomever here goes.”

GENTLEMAN GEORGE'S SONG.

Air: ”Old King Cole.”

I be's the cove, the merry old cove, Of whose max all the rufflers sing; And a lus.h.i.+ng cove, I thinks, by Jove, Is as great as a sober king!

CHORUS. Is as great as a sober king!

Whatever the noise as is made by the boys At the bar as they lush away, The devil a noise my peace alloys As long as the rascals pay!

CHORUS. As long as the rascals pay!

What if I sticks my stones and my bricks With mortar I takes from the sn.o.bbish?

All who can feel for the public weal Likes the public-house to be bobbish.

CHORUS. Likes the public-house to be bobbish.

”There, gemmen!” said the publican, stopping short, ”that's the pith of the matter, and split my wig but I'm short of breath now. So send round the brandy, Augustus; you sly dog, you keeps it all to yourself.”

By this time the whole conclave were more than half-seas over, or, as Augustus Tomlinson expressed it, ”their more austere qualities were relaxed by a pleasing and innocent indulgence.” Paul's eyes reeled, and his tongue ran loose. By degrees the room swam round, the faces of his comrades altered, the countenance of Old Bags a.s.sumed an awful and menacing air. He thought Long Ned insulted him, and that Old Bags took the part of the a.s.sailant, doubled his fist, and threatened to put the plaintiff's n.o.b into chancery if he disturbed the peace of the meeting.

Various other imaginary evils beset him. He thought he had robbed a mail-coach in company with Pepper; that Tomlinson informed against him, and that Gentleman George ordered him to be hanged; in short, he laboured under a temporary delirium, occasioned by a sudden reverse of fortune,--from water to brandy; and the last thing of which he retained any recollection, before he sank under the table, in company with Long Ned, Scarlet Jem, and Old Bags, was the bearing his part in the burden of what appeared to him a chorus of last dying speeches and confessions, but what in reality was a song made in honour of Gentleman George, and sung by his grateful guests as a finale of the festivities. It ran thus:--

THE ROBBER'S GRAND TOAST.

A tumbler of blue ruin, fill, fill for me!

Red tape those as likes it may drain; But whatever the lush, it a b.u.mper must be, If we ne'er drinks a b.u.mper again!

Now--now in the crib, where a ruffler may lie, Without fear that the traps should distress him, With a drop in the mouth, and a drop in the eye, Here's to Gentleman George,--G.o.d bless him!

G.o.d bless him, G.o.d bless him!

Here's to Gentleman George,--G.o.d bless him!

'Mong the pals of the prince I have heard it's the go, Before they have tippled enough, To smarten their punch with the best curagoa, More conish to render the stuff.

I boast not such lush; but whoever his gla.s.s Does not like, I'll be hanged if I press him!

Upstanding, my kiddies,--round, round let it pa.s.s!

Here's to Gentleman George,--G.o.d bless him!

G.o.d bless him, G.o.d bless him!

Here's to Gentleman George,-G.o.d bless him!