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Article TRYING TO CHANGE A SOVEREIGN. ← Page 8 of 9 →
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Trying To Change A Sovereign.
in lumbering barges , to Westminster stairs , ivhence they were rolled into the cellars of Mr . Percy ' s dwelling next to the Parliament House . What the police were about that they didn ' t observe these very suspicious transactions , I am sure I don ' t know , but I dare say Mr . Catesby did know how judiciously to sow a few acceptable half-crowns , and Scotland Yard being so near at hand , it is possible that in that quarter the watch was then less vigilant than
elsewhere , on the well-known principle that shoemakers' wii'es are ahvays the worst shod . By Candlemas Day , 1604-5 , no less than twenty of these mysterious barrels were stored in Mr . Percy ' s cellar . At Lady Day , considerably added to , they were hidden from view by the coals and faggots supplied by unsuspicious Mrs . Critchett .
Shortly after this concealment had been effected , however , came another alarm . Sturdy Kit Wright , early one morning , exhorted , as Gregory Avas enjoined , to " remember his SAvashing blow , " struck such a vigorous whack at the wall with his pick , Avhich Avas followed by such a crashing uproar over head , that all the members of the firm concluded some important part of the foundations had given way , and they , as usual , fell to crossing themselves , and calling lustily for the trusty Johnsontheir sentinel and factotum .
, That vigilant warder strode clown as unconcerned as ever , and heard of the neiv alarm with his usual composure . " It ' s only Mr . Bright next door having his kitchen chimney swept , " he contemptuously observed , and re-ascended the steps . But he returned almost immediately . His former equanimity had given place to jubilant excitement . His usually composedthough somewhat
, saturnine , countenance was now irradiated by a broad grin . "He ' s sellin' off all his Derby Brights ! " he triumphantly ejaculated , jerking his thumb upwards as he spoke . "Who ' s sellin' ? " " Sellin' what ? " " What are Derb y Brights ? " the others , ivho by this time had recovered from their fri ght , interrogated confusedly .
" 'Who ' s sellin' ? ' " Mr . Johnson sneered . " Why , Mr . Bri ght's sellin '; the genelman who rents the cellar over there , the other side of that wall youVe all been breakin' your blessed teeth ancl pickaxes against this six months past . I tell you—honour bright!—Mr . Bright is a sellin' his Derb y Brights—His kitchen coals , stoopids ! " Mr . Johnson added , with ill disguised contempt for the obtuseness of his audience .
Mr . Catesby posed in a dignified attitude . He Avaved his hand to command silence and attention , and then solemnly announced" The firm will purchase the lot!—at market price ! on Civil Service co-operative terms , that is to say , discount for cash . " The limited liability co-partners were awed . This was an enterprise so stupendous that—they were musing upon it when"And the cellar ' s to let , " Johnson interpolated .
" The firm will become Mr . Bright ' s tenant , ancl add that apartment to its already capacious storage , ' - ' continued the head partner . " We'll pay a year ' s rent in advance . " So they asked Mr . Bright in , ancl concluded the transaction over glasses of " old and bitter , " ancl that is how that worth y tenant of Government property sold his fuel ancl sub-let his holding . But the price of the one ancl the rent of the other were included in one
cheque , and that cheque teas drawn ON THE JERKBACK BANK !!! That cheque was never honoured ! For why ? We knoiv that the account of Catesb y & Co . ( Limited ) with that eminent financial establishment had long before been closed . When Mr . Bright ' s back was turned ancl the " mild Burton " ancl " old
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Trying To Change A Sovereign.
in lumbering barges , to Westminster stairs , ivhence they were rolled into the cellars of Mr . Percy ' s dwelling next to the Parliament House . What the police were about that they didn ' t observe these very suspicious transactions , I am sure I don ' t know , but I dare say Mr . Catesby did know how judiciously to sow a few acceptable half-crowns , and Scotland Yard being so near at hand , it is possible that in that quarter the watch was then less vigilant than
elsewhere , on the well-known principle that shoemakers' wii'es are ahvays the worst shod . By Candlemas Day , 1604-5 , no less than twenty of these mysterious barrels were stored in Mr . Percy ' s cellar . At Lady Day , considerably added to , they were hidden from view by the coals and faggots supplied by unsuspicious Mrs . Critchett .
Shortly after this concealment had been effected , however , came another alarm . Sturdy Kit Wright , early one morning , exhorted , as Gregory Avas enjoined , to " remember his SAvashing blow , " struck such a vigorous whack at the wall with his pick , Avhich Avas followed by such a crashing uproar over head , that all the members of the firm concluded some important part of the foundations had given way , and they , as usual , fell to crossing themselves , and calling lustily for the trusty Johnsontheir sentinel and factotum .
, That vigilant warder strode clown as unconcerned as ever , and heard of the neiv alarm with his usual composure . " It ' s only Mr . Bright next door having his kitchen chimney swept , " he contemptuously observed , and re-ascended the steps . But he returned almost immediately . His former equanimity had given place to jubilant excitement . His usually composedthough somewhat
, saturnine , countenance was now irradiated by a broad grin . "He ' s sellin' off all his Derby Brights ! " he triumphantly ejaculated , jerking his thumb upwards as he spoke . "Who ' s sellin' ? " " Sellin' what ? " " What are Derb y Brights ? " the others , ivho by this time had recovered from their fri ght , interrogated confusedly .
" 'Who ' s sellin' ? ' " Mr . Johnson sneered . " Why , Mr . Bri ght's sellin '; the genelman who rents the cellar over there , the other side of that wall youVe all been breakin' your blessed teeth ancl pickaxes against this six months past . I tell you—honour bright!—Mr . Bright is a sellin' his Derb y Brights—His kitchen coals , stoopids ! " Mr . Johnson added , with ill disguised contempt for the obtuseness of his audience .
Mr . Catesby posed in a dignified attitude . He Avaved his hand to command silence and attention , and then solemnly announced" The firm will purchase the lot!—at market price ! on Civil Service co-operative terms , that is to say , discount for cash . " The limited liability co-partners were awed . This was an enterprise so stupendous that—they were musing upon it when"And the cellar ' s to let , " Johnson interpolated .
" The firm will become Mr . Bright ' s tenant , ancl add that apartment to its already capacious storage , ' - ' continued the head partner . " We'll pay a year ' s rent in advance . " So they asked Mr . Bright in , ancl concluded the transaction over glasses of " old and bitter , " ancl that is how that worth y tenant of Government property sold his fuel ancl sub-let his holding . But the price of the one ancl the rent of the other were included in one
cheque , and that cheque teas drawn ON THE JERKBACK BANK !!! That cheque was never honoured ! For why ? We knoiv that the account of Catesb y & Co . ( Limited ) with that eminent financial establishment had long before been closed . When Mr . Bright ' s back was turned ancl the " mild Burton " ancl " old