Pickwick Abroad: A Companion to the Pickwick Papers — page 114: what you’re looking at

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102 his escape, “I only adopted the Count’s title for the fun of the thing. He has sought safety in flight—and my name is Snodgrass, as you may convince yourself by looking on the lid of that trunk, or into my pocket-book, or even on my passport.” | “Snodgrass is the name of the other swindler,” cried Mr, Lawson. “ Snodgrass is my name,” indignantly exclaimed the sole proprietor of that far- famed patronymic; “and my friends can prove it.” le “ You haven’t any friends,” persisted Mr. Lawson, using a term of reproach much in vogue amongst cads and gentlemen in the same distinguished walk of London society. “ My friends are well known in this city, sir,” retorted Mr. Snodgrass; and he pro- ceeded to extol the excellencies of his three former associates in travel. “ Pickwick — Tupman — Winkle!” ex- claimed the officer: “there must be some Enistake here. You may retire ;’—and the two Gendarmes who had accompanied their superior, and to whom this hint was ad- dressed, withdrew accordingly. — “What's the matter, now?” demanded Mr. Lawson. “You are the friend of the gentlemen m9 just mentioned ?” inquired the officer of r. Snodgrass, without heeding the interro- gation of the landlord. ‘iy Mr. Snodgrass, of course, replied in the affirmative. | “And how came you to travel with the Count, as you call him?” continued the Gendarme. | Mr. Snodgrass succinctly stated how he had fallen in with Count Boloski, at Bou- logne; and then detailed those particulars with which the reader is already acquainted. “You have been the victim of the most consummate swindler under heaven,” cried the Gendarme, when Mr. Snodgrass had brought his narrative to a conclusion ; “and if I do not labor under a very great mistake, he has already taken in your friends mor than once. But let us see.” | The Gendarme desired Mr. Lawson to conduct them to the chamber which had been occupied by the soz-disant Count Boloski; and when they were shown thither, he commenced a most urceremonious inveés- tigation into the carpet-bag which the fugi- tive had left behind him. T'wo or three letters speedily revealed the truth; they. had been addressed and delivered in Lon- don, through the medium of the two-penny Py PICKWICK’ ABROAD : % post; and their Supersdtiptions were various inasmuch as some were addressed to “ Mr. William Sugden, Lanthorn and Cat, Black- man Street, Borough,” —-and others ta “Adolphus Crashem, Esq., No. , Maddox Street, Regent Street.” “This is as I thought,” said the Gendarme, as he handed the letter to Mr. Snodgrass, “T know this swindler, by repute, well !” exclaimed the Pickwickian, in the deepest indignation and astonishment. “But by how singular a combination of circumstances have I become the, victim of him who has so successfully duped my friends !” “And the lady,” suggested Mr. Lawson. Mr. Lawson led the way to the chamber which had been allotted to the fair Love- minski; but its supposed occupant was not there. “And there was a quantity of plate locked up in the cupboard!” exclaimed Mr. Lawson, a sudden paleness overspreading his coun- tenance ; then, having handed the candle to the Gendarme, he rushed to the corner in which the little articles hinted at had been concealed. “God bless me! she’s decamped with my best dinner service!” he added, after a moment’s investigation: “not a spoon—not a fork—not a thing left behind!” “ But here also is a trace of her,” said the Gendarme; and he took from the fugitive lady’s trunk a pair of gloves, on the inside of which the magic words “ Anastasie de Volage” had been written with blue ink. “And my money ?” ejaculated Mr. Snod- grass, as he suddenly recollected the purse he had consigned to the Count near Samer. “ Not one stiver will you ever recover of that,” answered the Gendarme. “And my plate?” cried Mr. Lawson. “In a condition equally hopeless,” was the consolatory reply. “But I must. at once put my men upon the alert after the fugitives; and then we will talk over the matter,” continued the Gendarme: “for, I: : w a - « 3 ; Ab * ly * * suppose,” he added, with a smile, “you, ,— have neither of you -any inclination to, sleep.” | Both Mr. Lawson and Mr. Snodgrass , b ¥ declared that they had not; and while the ~ Gendarme hastened to send his fo‘lowers in pursuit of the Count and the Ccuntess, alias Mr, Sugden and Mademoiselle Anas- tasie de Volage, the landlord and his guest proceeded to the’ private sitting of the former, near the office, in which there was a cheerful fire, by the aid of which and a little hot brandy-and-water, they managed (CONN (A) |NOO/KS EO