regarded as idle tales, wholly destitute of foundation, for nobody in
Scotland-yard doubted that if the Lord Mayor contemplated any such dark
design, he would just be clapped up in the Tower for a week or two, and
then killed off for high treason.

By degrees, however, the reports grew stronger, and more frequent, and at
last a barge, laden with numerous chaldrons of the best Wallsend, brought
up the positive intelligence that several of the arches of the old bridge
were stopped, and that preparations were actually in progress for
constructing the new one. What an excitement was visible in the old
tap-room on that memorable night! Each man looked into his neighbour's
face, pale with alarm and astonishment, and read therein an echo of the
sentiments which filled his own breast. The oldest heaver present proved
to demonstration, that the moment the piers were removed, all the water
in the Thames would run clean off, and leave a dry gully in its place.
What was to become of the coal-barges--of the trade of Scotland-yard--of
the very existence of its population? The tailor shook his head more
sagely than usual, and grimly pointing to a knife on the table, bid them
wait and see what happened. He said nothing--not he; but if the Lord
Mayor didn't fall a victim to popular indignation, why he would be rather
astonished; that was all.

They did wait; barge after barge arrived, and still no tidings of the
assassination of the Lord Mayor. The first stone was laid: it was done
by a Duke--the King's brother. Years passed away, and the bridge was
opened by the King himself. In course of time, the piers were removed;
and when the people in Scotland-yard got up next morning in the confident
expectation of being able to step over to Pedlar's Acre without wetting
the soles of their shoes, they found to their unspeakable astonishment
that the water was just where it used to be.

A result so different from that which they had anticipated from this
first improvement, produced its full effect upon the inhabitants of
Scotland-yard. One of the eating-house keepers began to court public
opinion, and to look for customers among a new class of people. He
covered his little dining-tables with white cloths, and got a painter's
apprentice to inscribe something about hot joints from twelve to two, in
one of the little panes of his shop-window. Improvement began to march
with rapid strides to the very threshold of Scotland-yard. A new mar