The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 1: Pauline Clarendon (Classic Reprint) - Tapa blanda

Excerpt from Pauline Clarendon: The Mysteries of the Court of London

This rapid glance at the state of political affairs will not only give the reader an idea of the interesting period at which our tale commences, but is likewise in certain points an indispensable preface to the incidents that are to follow.

It was, then, in the beginning of January, 1795, and on a fine frosty evening, that a number of bagmen, or commercial travellers, were assembled around a blazing fire and sipping their hot toddy in the room especially set apart for their accommodation at the George and Blue Boar, Holborn.

Some of them were about to depart that very night upon their journeys in various directions; others had just returned from long tours, and were felicitating themselves on the prospect of a few weeks' holiday. Those who were on the point of setting out were already equipped to encounter the nipping chill of the weather, save in respect to their heavy greatcoats which hung to the pegs in the apartment; while those who had come home again were indulging in the luxu~ rions indolence of dressing-gowns and Slippers.

The conversation was general: for the bagmen, frequent ing that tavern, were all well known to each other and even when a newcomer in the profession' appeared amongst them, their convivial heartiness of disposition and frank hospitality of character soon placed him on terms of ease and familiarity. For there is no class of men more generous nor more intellectual and enlightened, taking them as a body, than that of commercial travellers.

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