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There are thousands of similarly circumstanced speculators: they make a daily, if not more frequent promenade to the betting-office; and on the days when the races come off, they may be observed in shoals, nodding and winking knowingly as they pass one another.
The money-making, prosperous betting-office is quite a different thing. It is not advisable for concerns which intend making thousands in a few years, to pay the superintendents liberally, and to keep well-clothed touters to conduct themselves, in short, like speculative offices. They must not depend entirely upon chance.
'Who's your friend? asked he of Sir Harry direct. 'Don't know, replied Sir Harry, from between the mouthfuls of a highly cayenned grill. 'P'raps a bolting betting-office keeper, suggested Captain Ladofwax, who hated Captain Bouncey. 'He looks more like a glazier, I think, retorted Captain Bouncey, with a look of defiance at the speaker.
The betting-office keeper is the speculator's divinity. The office itself is but the point where the ringing of the metal takes place, where the actual business is more bindingly entered into; but on great, or, as they are technically termed, grand days, there will occur what will also apply, perhaps, occasionally to grand operas very heavy operations.
He will drop fishing words to other gazers, will try to overhear whispered remarks, will sidle towards any jockey-legged or ecurial costumed individual, and aim more especially at getting into the good graces of the betting-office keeper, who, when his business is slack, comes forth from behind the partition and from the duties of the pigeon-hole, to stretch his legs and hold turf-converse.
But by degrees everything comes right again. The insane are shut up the desperate transported the dead buried the deserted families carted to the workhouse; and the betting-office goes on as before. It is one o'clock P. M.; I am at Hyde-Park Corner; I hail the nearest 'Hansom, and am quickly dashing away for Chiswick.
A betting-office may display on its small show-board two bronzed plaster horses, rampant, held by two Ethiopian figures, nude; or it may prefer making a show of cigars. Many offices have risen out of simple cigar-shops. When this is the case, the tobacco business gives way, the slow trade and fast profession not running well together. An official appearance is always considered necessary.
They were all captains, or captains by courtesy. Ladofwax had been a painter and glazier in the Borough, where he made the acquaintance of Captain Quod, while that gentleman was an inmate of Captain Hudson's strong house. Captain Bouncey was the too well-known betting-office keeper; and Seedeybuck was such a constant customer of Mr.
Chance is very well for betting-men, but will not do for the respectable betting-office keepers, who are the stakeholders. The plan adopted is a very simple one, but ingenious in its simplicity. The betting-office takes a great dislike in its own mind to a particular horse, the favourite of the betting-men.
Sedley and Etherege are not a whit worse, but only more stupid, than Fletcher or Shirley; and Monsieur Thomas is the spiritual father of all Angry lads, Rufflers, Blades, Bullies, Mohocks, Corinthians, and Dandies, down to the last drunken clerk who wrenched off a knocker, or robbed his master's till to pay his losses at a betting-office.
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