, that even Gilbert with difficulty
recognised his person. As for the novice Crowe, his head had almost
resumed its natural dimensions, but then his whole face was so covered
with a livid suffusion, his nose appeared so flat, and his lips so
tumefied, that he might very well have passed for a Caffre or Ethiopian.
Every circumstance being now adjusted, they departed from Bugden in a
regular cavalcade, dined at Hatfield, and in the evening arrived at the
Bull and Gate Inn in Holborn, where they established their quarters for
the night.

CHAPTER TWENTY

IN WHICH OUR HERO DESCENDS INTO THE MANSION OF THE DAMNED.

The first step which Sir Launcelot took in the morning that succeeded his
arrival in London was to settle Mrs. Dolly Cowslip in lodgings at the
house where John Clump had promised to visit her; as he did not doubt,
that, though the visit was delayed, it would some time or other be
performed, and in that case he might obtain some intelligence of Aurelia.
Mr. Thomas Clarke was permitted to take up his habitation in the same
house, on his earnestly desiring he might be intrusted with the office of
conveying information and instruction between Dolly and our adventurer.
The knight himself resolved to live retired, until he should receive some
tidings relating to Miss Darnel that should influence his conduct; but he
proposed to frequent places of public resort incognito, that he might
have some chance of meeting by accident with the mistress of his heart.

Taking it for granted, that the oddities of Crowe would help to amuse him
in his hours of solitude and disappointment, he invited that original to
be his guest at a small house, which he determined to hire ready
furnished, in the neighbourhood of Golden Square. The captain thanked
him for his courtesy, and frankly embraced his offer, though he did not
much approve of the knight's choice in point of situation. He said he
would recommend him to a special good upper deck hard by St. Catherine's
in Wapping, where he would be delighted with the prospect of the street
forwards, well frequented by passengers, carts, drays, and other
carriages; and having backwards an agreeable view of Alderman Parson's
great brewhouse, with two hundred hogs feeding almost under the window.
As a further inducement, he mentioned the vicinity of the Tower guns,
which would regale his hearing on days of salutation; nor did he forget
the sweet sound of mooring and unmooring ships in