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circuit of prohibited district to gloom； silence； pestilence； and
death。
It was by one of the terrific barriers already mentioned； and which
indicated the region beyond to be under the Pest…ban； that； in
scrambling down an alley； Legs and the worthy Hugh Tarpaulin found
their progress suddenly impeded。 To return was out of the question；
and no time was to be lost； as their pursuers were close upon their
heels。 With thorough…bred seamen to clamber up the roughly fashioned
plank…work was a trifle； and； maddened with the twofold excitement of
exercise and liquor； they leaped unhesitatingly down within the
enclosure； and holding on their drunken course with shouts and
yellings； were soon bewildered in its noisome and intricate recesses。
Had they not； indeed； been intoxicated beyond moral sense； their
reeling footsteps must have been palsied by the horrors of their
situation。 The air was cold and misty。 The paving…stones； loosened
from their beds； lay in wild disorder amid the tall； rank grass；
which sprang up around the feet and ankles。 Fallen houses choked up
the streets。 The most fetid and poisonous smells everywhere
prevailed； and by the aid of that ghastly light which； even at
midnight； never fails to emanate from a vapory and pestilential at
atmosphere； might be discerned lying in the by…paths and alleys； or
rotting in the windowless habitations； the carcass of many a
nocturnal plunderer arrested by the hand of the plague in the very
perpetration of his robbery。
But it lay not in the power of images； or sensations； or
impediments such as these； to stay the course of men who； naturally
brave； and at that time especially； brimful of courage and of
〃humming…stuff！〃 would have reeled； as straight as their condition
might have permitted； undauntedly into the very jaws of Death。 Onward
still onward stalked the grim Legs； making the desolate solemnity
echo and re…echo with yells like the terrific war…whoop of the
Indian： and onward； still onward rolled the dumpy Tarpaulin； hanging
on to the doublet of his more active companion； and far surpassing
the latter's most strenuous exertions in the way of vocal music； by
bull…roarings in basso； from the profundity of his stentorian lungs。
They had now evidently reached the strong hold of the pestilence。
Their way at every step or plunge grew more noisome and more horrible
the paths more narrow and more intricate。 Huge stones and beams
falling momently from the decaying roofs above them； gave evidence；
by their sullen and heavy descent； of the vast height of the
surrounding houses； and while actual exertion became necessary to
force a passage through frequent heaps of rubbish； it was by no means
seldom that the hand fell upon a skeleton or rested upon a more
fleshly corpse。
Suddenly； as the seamen stumbled against the entrance of a tall and
ghastly…looking building； a yell more than usually shrill from the
throat of the excited Legs； was replied to from within； in a rapid
succession of wild； laughter…like； and fiendish shrieks。 Nothing
daunted at sounds which； of such a nature； at such a time； and in
such a place； might have curdled the very blood in hearts less
irrevocably on fire； the drunken couple rushed headlong against the
door； burst it open； and staggered into the midst of things with a
volley of curses。
The room within which they found themselves proved to be the shop of
an undertaker； but an open trap…door； in a corner of the floor near
the entrance； looked down upon a long range of wine…cellars； whose
depths the occasional sound of bursting bottles proclaimed to be well
stored with their appropriate contents。 In the middle of the room
stood a table in the centre of which again arose a huge tub of
what appeared to be punch。 Bottles of various wines and cordials；
together with jugs； pitchers； and flagons of every shape and quality；
were scattered profusely upon the board。 Around it； upon
coffin…tressels； was seated a company of six。 This company I will
endeavor to delineate one by one。
Fronting the entrance； and elevated a little above his companions；
sat a personage who appeared to be the president of the table。 His
stature was gaunt and tall； and Legs was confounded to behold in him
a figure more emaciated than himself。 His face was as yellow as
saffron but no feature excepting one alone； was sufficiently
marked to merit a particular description。 This one consisted in a
forehead so unusually and hideously lofty； as to have the appearance
of a bonnet or crown of flesh superadded upon the natural head。 His
mouth was puckered and dimpled into an expression of ghastly
affability； and his eyes； as indeed the eyes of all at table； were
glazed over with the fumes of intoxication。 This gentleman was
clothed from head to foot in a richly…embroidered black silk…velvet
pall； wrapped negligently around his form after the fashion of a
Spanish cloak。 His head was stuck full of sable hearse…plumes；
which he nodded to and fro with a jaunty and knowing air； and； in his
right hand； he held a huge human thigh…bone； with which he appeared
to have been just knocking down some member of the company for a
song。
Opposite him； and with her back to the door； was a lady of no whit
the less extraordinary character。 Although quite as tall as the
person just described； she had no right to complain of his unnatural
emaciation。 She was evidently in the last stage of a dropsy； and her
figure resembled nearly that of the huge puncheon of October beer
which stood； with the head driven in； close by her side； in a corner
of the chamber。 Her face was exceedingly round； red； and full； and
the same peculiarity； or rather want of peculiarity； attached itself
to her countenance； which I before mentioned in the case of the
president that is to say； only one feature of her face was
sufficiently distinguished to need a separate characterization：
indeed the acute Tarpaulin immediately observed that the same remark
might have applied to each individual person of the party； every one
of whom seemed to possess a monopoly of some particular portion of
physiognomy。 With the lady in question this portion proved to be the
mouth。 Commencing at the right ear； it swept with a terrific chasm to
the left the short pendants which she wore in either auricle
continually bobbing into the aperture。 She made； however； every
exertion to keep her mouth closed and look dignified； in a dress
consisting of a newly starched and ironed shroud coming up close
under her chin； with a crimpled ruffle of cambric muslin。
At her right hand sat a diminutive young lady whom she appeared to
patronise。 This delicate little creature； in the trembling of her
wasted fingers； in the livid hue of her lips； and in the slight
hectic spot which tinged her otherwise leaden complexion； gave
evident indications of a galloping consumption。 An air of gave
extreme haut ton； however； pervaded her whole appearance； she wore in
a graceful and degage manner； a large and beautiful winding…sheet of
the finest India lawn； her hair hung in ringlets over her neck； a
soft smile played about her mouth； but her nose； extremely long；
thin； sinuous； flexible and pimpled； hung down far below her under
lip； and in spite of the delicate manner in which she now and then
moved it to one side or the other with her tongue； gave to her
countenance a somewhat equivocal expression。
Over against her； and upon the left of the dropsical lady； was seated
a little puffy； wheezing； and gouty old man； whose cheeks reposed
upon the shoulders of their owner； like two huge bladders of Oporto
wine。 With his arms folded； and with one bandaged leg deposited upon
the table； he seemed to think himself entitled to some consideration。
He evidently prided himself much upon every inch of his personal
appearance； but took more especial delight in calling attention to
his gaudy…colored surtout。 This； to say the truth； must have cost him
no little money； and was made to fit him exceedingly well being
fashioned from one of the curiously embroidered silken covers
appertaining to those glorious escutcheons which； in England and
elsewhere； are customarily hung up； in some conspicuous place； upon
the dwellings of departed aristocracy。
Next to him； and at the right hand of the president； was a gentleman
in long white hose and cotton drawers。 His frame shook； in a
ridiculous manner； with a fit of what Tarpaulin called 〃the horrors。〃
His jaws； which had been newly shaved； were tightly tied up by a
bandage of muslin； and his arms being fastened in a similar way at
the wrists； I I prevented him from helping himself too freely to the
liquors upon the table； a precaution rendered necessary； in the
opinion of Legs； by the peculiarly sottish and wine…bibbing cast of
his visage。 A pair of prodigious ears； nevertheless； which it was no
doubt found impossible to confine； towered away into the atmosphere
of the apartment； and were occasionally pricked up in a spasm； at the
sound of the drawing of a cork。
Fronting him； sixthly and lastly； was situated a singularly
stiff…looking personage； who； being afflicted with paralysis； must；
to speak seriously； have felt very ill at ease