Pickwick Abroad: A Companion to the Pickwick Papers — page 105: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

* ‘ _% e eA * PICKWICK ABROAD. = gsi » 93 ‘ eh - Oe ' e hy . , e " to Count Boloski, and felicitated Himself in before; But since our minds are maje up his own mind that he had fallen in with a nobleman of so distinguished a rank on his first arrival in France. He had heard that the foreign title of Count is equivalent to- our’s of Earl; and he immediately assumed a most complacent smile and graceful atti- tude in the presence of the Polish peer. “ Has your lordship been long in France ?” demanded Mr. Rebidraas by way of say- ing something. 4 “T only came yesterday,” returned the Count. “But I pass five or six months every year in this country, and usually trayel post. I hate the trouble of valets, and carriages of your own, and all that. Comfort is my study, as the Great—as my friend, Prince Poniatowski used to say,’ added the Count, correcting himself towards the termination of the sentence. “Your lordship is quite right—comfort is thesessential,” said Mr. Snodgrass. “Thank you, my lord;’ and Mr. Snodgrass took a pinch of snuff from a box which the Count presented to him. “This box is a great curiosity,” observed the Count, carelessly consigning it to his nt “It belonged to the Marquis of ilkokrankovitch, my great, great, great, great-grandfather ; and it saved his life at the battle of Killorlas by turning a musket ball when in his waistcoat-pocket. That’s the reason I value it; or else it’s no great eauty.” _& This last statement was a self-evident truth ; for the snuff-box, although so highly prized, had every appearance of being an old three-and-sixpenny article worn and discolored by long use. Mr. Snodgrass, however, viewed it with the most profound respect and admiration: “Tivo o'clock,” said the’ Count, musing, as he drew a watch from his fob: then, in an apparently reckless manner, he added, * Here’s another heir-loom which I value more than a thousand gold repeaters set round with pearls, This watch belonged to my great-grand-father’s grandfather’s mo- ther’s sister’s uncle, the general who beat the Russians in the sanguinary combat of Slayemorlovitch.” “How very much it resembles one of the cheap English hunting-watches,” ob- served Mr. Snodgrass, surveying this curi- Osity with the same respect he had be- |. stowed upon the snuff-box. “Yes—so it does” exclaimed Count Boloski: “I never noticed that coincidence to go post, we'll just order some dinner and “ My friends have lodgings in Paris,” said Mr. Snodgrass, with a slight hesitation. “They live in the Rue Royale, where your lordship will always be welcome. But perhaps you lordship has already heard of the name of Pickwick? He has made a little noise in the world.” “ Pickwick |!” exclaimed the Count, with a sudden start. “Oh! decidedly—I know that great-man well—by name.” : » oe my friend,” continued Mr. Snod- grass, delighted to perceive by the Count’s manner; as well as his words, that the ex- ploits of the illustrious hero of these Me- moirs were so extensively known. “ He has been upon the Continent some time; but his universal philanthropy has led him into acts of generosity which have been greatly abused by unprincipled men. There was one Crashem—Adolphus Crash- em,” continued Mr. Snodgrass, “ who swindled him and our other friends, 'Tup- man and Winkle, to a great amount.” “The scoundrel!” exctaimed Count Boloski, with an emphasis which admirably displayed his abhorrence of Mr. Adolphus Crashem’s conduct. | The Count, having thus given vent to his indignation at the moral turpitude of a degraded fellow-creature, proceeded to order dinner with a great ‘leal of pomposity and ceremony, which Mr. Snodgrass thought were the necessary qualifications of a nobleman. The repast was speedily served up; and a very copious one jit was. The Count ordered the most expensive wines, and drank his share of them with a facility and speed which quite astonished his companion. He told a number of anecdotes relative to his high and mighty ancestors, invited Mr. Snodgrass to accom- pany him into Poland and stay with him at his paternal castle of Bolosk, and proved himself to be one of the most condescending and generous noblemen living. In process of time the dinner was discussed, the car- riage ready, and’the’bills made out, respect- ively, forthe Count and Mr, Snodgrass, —_— Got change for a hundred pound Bank England note ?” demanded Count Boloski of the waiter, as he took his purse from his pocket and flourished it round his hand. “No, milord, I have not,” answered the then start-in the cool of the eveniga. We | shall get to Paris to-morrow night. Yo to some hotel, of course 2” ECoOnniclooolks _ COU