Pickwick Abroad: A Companion to the Pickwick Papers — page 120: what you’re looking at

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would see Mr. 108 fore; and having compared his watch with the clock of the Exchange, he hurried on- ward towards the Rue Montmartre. When he was convinced that he had arrived in the right street, he cautiously examined the numbers on the gateways of the houses ; and then pursued a certain direction to a certain address which he read upon a little card that he every now and then took from his pocket and referred to. During the whole of this extraordinary walk, Mr. Tup- man’s countenance was animated in the ex- treme. At length Mr. Tupman stopped at a cer- tain house, and asked the porter if no less a gentleman than Mr. William Terry, the Matrimonial Advocate, were at home. His question having been understood with some httle difficulty, an answer in the affirmative was given: and Mr. Tupman was requested to walk up a few flights of stairs, and he Terry’s name upon one of the doors. Every thing like the prophecy of a fairy m an oriental romance, turned out as the porter had intimated: the door was up the stairs—the name was upon the door—and when the door was opened, it admitted Mr, Tupman, through a little hall, Into a large parlor, where sate Mr. Wil- liam Terry in a cotton dressing-gown and a morocco leather chair. “Your most obedient,” cried Mr. William Terry, as soon as he espied his visitor, “Punctual, am I not ?” said Mr. Tupman, by which we are to understand, we pre- sume, that Mr. Tupman had, by some mys ge! terious process peculiar to his own lofty genius, had a former Interview with the matrimonial agent, and made him familiar with the names and business of himself and friends. “ Why—my watch is gone to be mended,” returned Mr. Terry (“ at the pawnbroker’s,” he might have added); “and the time- piece in the other room doesn’t go (it most likely would have gone, and after the watch too, if there had been one). “Oh! it isnt three yet,” said Mr. Tup- man, referring to his own repeater. “I left Pickwick and the others at lunch; and so there’s no danger of their knowing that I came here.” “Nor have they guessed that we have any communication together, I suppose,” added Mr. Terry. “od forbid!’ replied Mr. Tupman. “But, is she—that is, the young lady— eome’ vet ?” PICKWICK ABROAD. “I expect her enti moment, Mr. Tup- man,” was the solemn assurance of. the Matrimonial Advocate. “Of course you will not be offended if she brings her confi- dential lady’s-maid with her. Decency, you know, my dear Sir—deceucy is the order of the day.” “Certainly—oh! certainly,” exclaimed Mr. Tupman. “On the contrary—so far from bemg annoyed at this instance of pro- priety on the young lady’s part, 1 am ex- cessively pleased with it.” “ You recollect the terms, Mr. Tupman 2” asked Mr. Terry, fidgeting somewhat in his chair, as he was most likely a very modest man, and detested all considera- tions of filthy lucre. “Five per cent. upon the’ fortune, if the match takes place, I think,” returned Mr. Tupman. “ And a thousand francs. beforehand for my trouble in bringing about the interview,’ continued Mr. Terry. “Pve already re ceived half, you know.” ' Mr. Tupman’s bright imagination in stantly compr ehended the meaning of this hint; and a note for five hundred francs, being the other moiety due, was immedi- diately tendered to the Matrimonial Advyo- cate, who turned away his head, most likely for the purpose of concealing his blushes, as he received it. Scarcely was this important little matter adjusted, when a low ring at the front door bell made Mr. Tupman’s heart beat quickly. Mr. Terry himself ran to answer the peal, which was also an appeal; and in a few moments he returned to Mr. Tupman with the gratifying news that the young lady, who had kindly consented to grant him an interview, and to receive him asa partner for life, if in the course of a quarter of an hour or so he should be fortunate enough to please her, was waiting in an adyjoming room. “What sort of a looking-person is she ?” hastily iuquired Mr. Tupman, “Very handsome, as | have before said,” returned Mr. Terry. « And you are certain that she doesn’t know me, even by sight?’ deraanded Mr. Tupman: “ because, if by any accident we did not suit each other— “You may safely rely upon my honor,” interrupted the Matrimonial Advocate, lay- ing his hand flat upon his left breast. “That's quite enough,” whispered Mr. Tupman: but whether he meant to infer CO INMIC () LAOOKS.,.EO)