Chapter IV

A Man And The Abyss

>>>>After a momentary silence spake
>>>>Some vessel of a more ungainly make;
>>>>They sneer at me for leaning all awry:
>>>>What ! did the hand then of the Potter shake?
>>>> -- Omar Khayyam

"I say, can you let a lodging?"

These words I discharged carelessly over my
shoulder at a stout and elderly woman, of whose
fare I was partaking in a greasy coffee-house down
near the Pool and not very far from Limehouse.

"Oh, yus," she answered shortly, my appearance
possibly not approximating the standard of affluence
required by her house.

I said no more, consuming my rasher of bacon
and pint of sickly tea in silence. Nor did she take
further interest in me till I came to pay my reckon
ing (fourpence), when I pulled all of ten shillings
out of my pocket. The expected result was pro
duced.

"Yus, sir," she at once volunteered; " I ave nice
lodgin s you d likely tyke a fancy to. Back from
a voyage, sir?"

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v?