The Honourable Mr. B----, one of the brothers of the Earl
of R----, was the _procureur_ to whom, I found, we were indebted, for
the present _honour_--a gay man, of some fashionable notoriety, whose
fortune is said to have suffered severely by his attachment to the
_orthodox orgies_ at the once celebrated Gothic Hall, when Parson John
Ambrose used to officiate as the presiding minister. "Here he is a
member of the committee," said Crony, "and, with his brother and the
old Lord F----, the Marquis H----, Colonel C----, and the Earl of G----,
forms the _secret directory_ of the New Club, which is considered almost
as good a thing as a Mexican mine; for, if report speaks truly, the
amount ~332~~of the profits in the last season exceeded one hundred
thousand pounds, after payment of expenses." A sudden crash in the
street at this moment drew the attention of all to the window, where an
accident presented a very ominous warning to those within _(see plate)_.
"A regular break down," said Echo. "_Floored_" said Transit, "_but
not much the matter_." "I beg your pardon, sir," said a wry-mouthed
portly-looking gentleman, who stood next to Bob; "it is a very _awkward_
circumstance to have occurred just here: I'll bet ten to one it spoils
all the _play_ to-night; and if any of those newspaper fellows get to
hear of it, _Fishmongers' Hall_ and its members will figure in print
again to-morrow;" and with that he bustled off to the street to assist
in re-producing a _move_ with all possible celerity.
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