For a thousand in Bennet Street (all on the square);
There's Li--d and C--m--ck, who'd a marine to be,
For none drills a guinea more ably than he;
There's a certain rum Baronet, every one knows,
Who on Saturday nights to the Two Sevens{1} goes,

With J---- and Cl----, Billy W---- and two more,
So drunk, that they keep merry hell in a roar.
Long D--ll--n, their C--rt--r, a son of a gun;
Bill B----, the Doctor, that figure of fun;

Bankers, Dealers and Demireps, Cuckolds in droves,
A T--l--r, a T--nf--Id, a Cr--kf--Id, and CI--ves;
A H--rtf--rd, a Y--rm--th, of frail ones ten score;
X--ft--e, S--br--gt and E--ll--s, and still many more."

"Come along," said Merrywell, "let us see what they are made of; are
either of you known? for Cerberus, who keeps the door, is d----d
particular, in consequence of some rows they have recently had, and the
devil is careful to pick his customers."

"To pluck them, you mean," said Tom; "but perhaps you are in possession
of the pass-word--if so, lead on."

1 The _Two Sevens_--A nick-name for the well-known house,
No. 77, Jermyn Street.

~196~~Tallyho had already heard so much about Hells, Gambling-houses,
and Subscription-houses, that he was all anxiety for an interior view,
and the same feeling animated Mortimer. As they were about to enter,
they were not a little surprised to find that houses which are spoken of
so publicly, have in general the appearance of private dwellings, with
the exception that the hall-door is left ajar during the hours usually
devoted to play, like those of trap-cages, to catch the passing pigeons,
and to obviate the delay which might be occasioned by the necessity of
knocking--a delay which might expose the customers to the glances of an
unsuspecting creditor--a confiding father, or a starving wife; and, as
Merrywell observed, "It was to be understood that the entrance was well
guarded, and that no gentleman could be permitted to risk or lose his
money, without an introduction." A very necessary precaution to obviate
the danger of being surprised by the officers of the law; but that rule
is too easily to be broken, for any gentleman whom the door-keeper
has sufficient reason to think is not an Officer of Justice, finds the
avenues to these labyrinths too ready for his admission.

[Illustration: page196 A Modern Hell]