Pickwick Abroad: A Companion to the Pickwick Papers — page 112: what you’re looking at

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

. 100 Mr. Lawson, Mrs. Lawson, Mr. Lane, the | . waiters, the chambermaids, “the boots,” the porters, and the e¢ cetera, all made a low bow to Mr. Snodgrass, when they heard him saluted by the title of Count ; and that gentleman was too much pleased with the civility he experienced at the moment, to convince any one present of the mistake under which they all labored | as to his rank. ey ‘When the postillion had been settled with, the three travellers were shown up a magnificent staircase into a suite of apart- ‘ments on the first floor, that looked into a little garden on one side of which were the Rivoli Baths; and all the saucepans in the kitchen were put into immediate requi- sition to provide a supper worthy of the UVount Boloski and his friends. Sn er ee _ CHAPTER XXI. Mr. Snodgrass receives a little comfortable and re- freshing information relative to certain matters in which he was more or less interested, and which the integrity of his fellow-travellers was intimately connected with—The Gendarme. How delicious is the downy couch, to use the high-flown phraseology of the fra- ternity of poets, after five-and-twenty hours of weary travelling! A bed is the most indispensable of mundane comforts. It is the place in which we are born and pass the happiest portion of our lives, and yet ae we never wish to keep. But at one time it appears much more luxurious than another; at least such was the opin- ion of Mr. Augustus Snodgrass—-and he was no mean authority-—on the occasion of his retiring to one for the first time at Law- son’s Bedford Hotel. Mr. Snodgrass did not, however, remain awake long to indulge in his reflections. He satisfied himself with the conclusion at which he had so sagaciously arrived rela- tive to the comforts of his couch, and re- signed the custody of his person into the care of the Genius of Sleep. In other words, he began to snore most manfully, and would doubtless have continued the same interesting occupation until nine on the following morning, had not a disagree- | able noise awoke him just as the clock of the Louvre proclaimed the hour of two. Mv. Snodgrass started, rubbed his eyes, and. then protruded his head, which was adorned \ eS | P) re a 7 PICKWICK ABROAD. . . with a sight through the opening in the curtains of his bed; but he as speedily withdrew it, for, by the sickly light of an expiring candle which he had forgotten to extinguish, he became aware that some one was in his chamber ; and his extensive imagination, aided by all his native ro- mance of poetry, immediately transformed the intruder into “a midnight robber or lurking assassin” who had'come to plunder, if not to murder him at two o’clock in the morning. Ina moment he was, however, agreeably undeceived. “Snodgrass, my dear fellow,” whispered : a voice which the gentleman thus amiably adjured forthwith recognized to be that of Count Boloski, “are you awake ?” “ Quite,” replied Mr. Snodgrass. “ Bat for God’s sake, what is the matter?? =» « You must know that I am a great re- | volutionist—a terrible republican—a. be. litical offender,” returned the Count, spe Paris is known. The Gendarmes—” “The Gendarmes!” interrupted Snodgrass in the greatest alarm. Me “The Gendarmes have got scent of me, and are already in the court-yard,” contin-_ ued the Count. “ Now—will you stick by ” a friend? can I rely on you ?” “ Certainly —oh! certainly,’ almost screamed Mr. Snodgrass, with so piteous a face beneath his white cotton night-cap that the Count, even in the midst of his difficulties, could not forbear from laugh- , ing. , ti ‘ Then keep them at bay—do not deny that you are the Count till I have had time to escape,” said the noble and. perse- cuted Pole: “ Loveminski is safe. She cannot be implicated in the matter :—and what is more, I don’t or a curse if she is,” added this generous martyr in the cause of fi@edom. +i'y |” °", ; Mr. Snodgrass murmured an assent to his friend’s request; and the Count, who was dressed in his travelling garb, as if he had never divested himself of it, opened the window of Mr. Snodprass’s bed-ro and leapt lightly out upon the ledge’ which it looked; for, on account of th other'chambers in that department of the building beirig unusually full, our three tra- vellers had been lodged on the top floor Mr. Snodgrass was quite bewildered by all that had occurred within the last few mo- ments; and fancying that his safety also epended upon flight, he jumped from his ing very quickly ; “and that my arrival in had . Mr. A "hy the ““ t ‘ 10)(OO) = a (CO) (C(O)