Twice round the clock; or, The hours of the day and night in London . to Leicester Square, nor, least of all, to Pentonvilie, to find doors of those mysterious meeting-places are tiled as securely asFreemasons lodges. Now and then a traitor, by lies and hypocrisy,gains admittance, but woe to the traitor if he be discovered in histreason. He dies within the year. The Belvidere is distinguished above its kindred discussion halls,by its eminently respectable aspect. The subjects broached are boldenough, and are as boldly treated j but you are puzzled to reconcile thefull-blown democracy
Twice round the clock; or, The hours of the day and night in London . to Leicester Square, nor, least of all, to Pentonvilie, to find doors of those mysterious meeting-places are tiled as securely asFreemasons lodges. Now and then a traitor, by lies and hypocrisy,gains admittance, but woe to the traitor if he be discovered in histreason. He dies within the year. The Belvidere is distinguished above its kindred discussion halls,by its eminently respectable aspect. The subjects broached are boldenough, and are as boldly treated j but you are puzzled to reconcile thefull-blown democracy of some of the speakers, with their mild, bank-account-possessing, rate-and-tax-paying, housekeeping appearance. They -:- There is a curious story anent this Green Dragon tavern, a dim record,embosomed in the musty records of the Ci State Trials. In a note to one of thosechroniclesof crimes and suffering, it is hinted at that the daughter of the execu-tioner of Charles the First was a barmaid at the Green Dragon in the reign ofQueen Anne. 288 TWICE ROUND THE CLOCK,. TEN —A DISCUSSION AT THE BELYIDEBE. 289 bark but do not bite. The usages and prestige of the place, too, demanda certain amenity in discussion and forbearance in reply, which throwsan extra tinge of respectability over the whole. Looking at this spa-cious, handsome room, panelled and pillared, comfortably and brilliantlylit, with its doubled rows of mahogany tables covered with bottles andglasses full of steaming compounds that do comfort the flesh outwardlyand rejoice the spirit inwardly-—in strict moderation, mind; looking atthis burly, substantial auditory, ensconced in their cosy chairs, smokingtheir cigars, and listening with attentive ears to the orator; looking atthe thoughtful waiter slipping from table to table, administering re-freshment and receiving orders with a subtle swiftness, yet taking, Iwill be bound, an ardent mental interest in the discussion ; looking atthe grave chairman in his comfort
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Keywords: ., bookauthormcconnel, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, bookyear1859
