Pickwick Abroad: A Companion to the Pickwick Papers — page 108: what you’re looking at

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

~ re] 96 and‘ he soon became aware that the Countess Loveminski must be desperately enamored _ of him. The Count grew very sentimental, talked of strangers. falling in love with each other the first time they ever met, asked his cousin if she had transferred her certain sixty thousand pounds from the English to the French funds, and then sang the follow- ing affecting song, when he Tad- imbibed the contents of a small flask which he carried in his pocket, for the express amusement of his cousin and Mr. Augustus Snodgrass. SONG. A1R.— The Soldiers Tear. Upon the drop he turned To swear a parting oath; _ He cursed the parson and Jack Ketch, And he coolly d——d them both, He listened to the hum Of the crowds that gathered nigh ; And he carelessly remarked, ey “What a famous man am [!”? Beside the scaffold’s foot His mistress piped her eye, She waved to him her dirty rag, And whimpering said ‘‘ Good bye!” She mourned the good old times That ne’er would come again, When he brought her home a well-lined purse ; But all her sighs were vain! Poor Jack was soon turned off, _ And gallantly was hung ;— There was a sigh in every breast, A groan on every tongue. Go—gaze upon his corse, And remember then you see The bravest robber that has been, Or ever more shall be! wr The Count having achieved this exceeding- ly interesting air, fell back in his seat, ‘and fast asleep at the same time ; and the Coun- tess Loveminski, being fain to imitate so ex- cellent an example, commenced a genteel chorus of nasal music which would have af- forded an agreeable variation to the perfor- mance of the orchestra in an English pro- vincial theatre. Mr. Snodgrass was delight- ed with the idea of being in the company of such illustrious imdividuals; and he shortly began to dream of nothing but noble Counts, lovely Countesses, castles on the tops of Po-— lish mountains, and srvall feet insinuated be- tween his own. »\ PICKWICK ABROAD. vu i o ' ae | . > | CHAPTER XX. The honesty of the Landlord at the principal Hote, in Amiens.—A most edifying conversation, in the course of which Mr. Snodgrass receives consider- able instruction.—The exchange of titles —Law- son’s Hotel. , Tse Count Boloski having expressed a wish to pass by Amiens, the travellers sto ped to breakfast at the Hotel de France in that ancient city. The Countess Lovemin- ski smiled very sweetly upon Mr. Snodgrass as he handed her from the carriage; and when they had each performed the ceremo- nies of the toilet in separate bed-rooms, they met in a parlor, where the Count had alrea- dy ordered a superb repast. ~ iD “Whom have you got there?” demanded the landlord of the postillion in their native French. “He, who gives orders, does not appear to speak our language very fluently.” “They pay deuced well, though,” return- ed the postillion. “‘ Drive quick,’ said the “ Count, ‘and you shall have an extra five- 9 franc-piece for yourself? ihe »“The devil!” exclaimed the landlord. “Thirty-two posts between Boulogne and Paris, paid at that rate, make a hundred and sixty francs more than the regular charge. What countrymen are they ?” “ He who seems to be the commander-in- chief,” replied the postillion,“is a Polish Count —and—” “A Polish Count!” cried the landlord. “ Does his name end in ’oski? ” : “Ves—that I'll be sworn to,” answered the postillion, “although he hasn’t got it on his portmanteau.” RE. «0 “T have it, then !” eried the landlord ; and he hastened to the chamber in which the Count Boloski was shaving himself. His lordship desired the host to explain his business. PE ne i he “Your most obedient humble servant,” began the obsequious host; “I jhave some- thing important to communicate to Monsieur.” “ Make haste, then,” was the Count’s en- couraging remark. amen. “ The truth is,” said the landlord, drawing very close to his lordship, and whispering in an almost inaudible tone of voice —“ the truth is, [m the bearer of a very important trust ; but I won't betray you” “That's exceedingly kind,” cried Count Bo- loski, applying the Jlather-brush to his face, -}and listening to the landlord whom he strong- | ly supected to be laboring under some de lusion. (CO) 10)(0O) <SriG@