Upon entering, the first person they met was Lord Cripplegate, whom they passed, and proceeded to the coffee-room; in one of the boxes of which Tom immediately directed his Cousin's attention to a well-dressed young man, who was reading the newspaper, and sipping his coffee--"Take notice of him," said Tom.
Bob looked at him for a moment, marked his features, and his dress, which was in the extreme of fashion; while Tom, turning to one of the Waiters, enquired for his friend Sparkle.
"He has not been here since yesterday morning!" said the Waiter.
"I have been waiting for him these two hours!" exclaimed the young Sprig of Fashion, laying down the newspaper almost at the same moment, "and must wait till he comes--Ah! Mr.Dashall, how d'ye do ?---very glad to see you--left all well in the country, I hope!--Mr.Sparkle was to have met me this morning at eleven precisely, I should judge he is gone into the country." "It must have been late last night, then," said Dashall, ~70~~"for he left us about half-past ten, and promised also to meet us again this morning at eleven; I can't think what can have become of him--but come," said he, taking Bob by the arm, "we must keep moving--Good morning--good morning." And thus saying, walked directly out of the house, turning to the right again towards Piccadilly.
"There is a remark made, I think by Goldsmith," said Tom, "that one half of the world don't know how the other half lives; and the man I spoke to in the coffee-room, whose name I am unacquainted with, though his person is recognized by almost every body, while his true character, residence, and means of subsistence, remain completely in obscurity, from what I have seen of him, I judge is what may be termed a _hanger on_." "A hanger on," said Bob--"what can that mean?
I took him for a man of property and high birth--but I saw you take so little notice of him." "Ah! my good fellow, I have already cautioned you not to be duped by appearances.

A _hanger on_ is a sort of sycophant, or toad-eater, and, in the coffee-houses and hotels of London, many such are to be found--men who can _spin out a long yarn_, tell a tough story, and tip you _a rum chant_--who invite themselves by a freedom of address bordering on impudence to the tables and the parties of persons they know, by pretending to call in by mere accident, just at the appointed time: by assuming great confidence, great haste, little appetite, and much business; but, at the same time, requiring but little pressure to forego them all for the pleasure of the company present.

What he can have to do with Sparkle I am at a loss to conceive; but he is an insinuating and an intriguing sort of fellow, whom I by no means like, so I cut him." Bob did not exactly understand the meaning of the word cut, and therefore begged his Cousin to explain.
"The cut," said Tom, "is a fashionable word for getting rid, by rude or any means, of any person whose company is not agreeable.

The art of _cutting_ is reduced to a system in London; and an explanatory treatise has been written on the subject for the edification of the natives.{1} But I am so bewildered to think what can have detained Sparkle, and deprived us of his company, that I scarcely know how to think for a moment on any other subject at present." 1 Vide a small volume entitled "The Cutter." ~71~~"It is somewhat strange!" cried Bob, "that he was not with you this morning." "There is some mystery in it," said Tom, "which time alone can unravel; but however, we will not be deprived of our intended ramble." At this moment they entered Piccadilly, and were crossing the road in their way to St.James's Street, when Dashall nodded to a gentleman passing by on the opposite side, and received a sort of half bow in return.

"That," said Tom, "is a curious fellow, and a devilish clever fellow too--for although he has but one arm, he is a man of science." "In what way ?" enquired Bob.
"He is a pugilist," said Tom--"one of those courageous gentlemen who can queer the daylights, tap the claret, prevent telling fibs, and pop the noddle into chancery; and a devilish good hand he is, I can assure you, among those who -- --"can combat with ferocious strife, And beat an eye out, or thump out a life; Can bang the ribs in, or bruise out the brains, And die, like noble blockheads, for their pains." [Illustration: page71 Fives Court] "Having but one arm, of course he is unable to figure in the ring--though he attends the mills, and is a constant visitor at the Fives Court exhibitions, and generally appears _a la Belcher_.