Mrs. Mooney's young men paid fifteen shillings a week for board
and lodgings (beer or stout at dinner excluded). They shared in
common tastes and occupations and for this reason they were very
chummy with one another. They discussed with one another the
chances of favourites and outsiders. Jack Mooney, the Madam's
son, who was clerk to a commission agent in Fleet Street, had the
reputation of being a hard case. He was fond of using soldiers'
obscenities: usually he came home in the small hours. When he
met his friends he had always a good one to tell them and he was
always sure to be on to a good thing-that is to say, a likely horse or
a likely artiste. He was also handy with the mits and sang comic
songs. On Sunday nights there would often be a reunion in Mrs.
Mooney's front drawing-room. The music-hall artistes would
oblige; and Sheridan played waltzes and polkas and vamped
accompaniments. Polly Mooney, the Madam's daughter, would
also sing. She sang:
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