Pickwick Abroad: A Companion to the Pickwick Papers — page 139: what you’re looking at

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right, I dare say. But mind that» the scrapts of cagese is eaten in the kitchen fore another one ts cut.” » i a8 a faa a reply, and carried her- ‘self and her wrongs back again to her own subterranean regions. _ : “You will excuse me, my dear sir,” ex- claimed Mr. Muggins, When his servant had disappeared ; “but I’m obleeged to be véery strict in my domestic ekkonommy: Would you believe it,” he added’ in a low an mye terious voice, “that we've lost upwar a bushel of es el the last sixweeks ”” f “God bless me!” cried Captai ham, forcing rie toy symp ut) misfortunes of t -to- gins: “you don’t say sol? | “I do indeed, though,” returned Mx. Mug- gins.- “ But now to business. was rayther sleepy yesterday, and did not shear all you had to say about your Asphalte institootion.” Captam Walsingham repeated many ‘of the strong and very convincing arguments he had used the day before ;\and Mr. Mugeips was so struck, not to say affected, by that one which related to the fact of the Captain’s be- ing unable to stand upright upon the paye- ment at times—particularly after dinne that he immediately resolved upon giving the Company his fullest support. Indeed, he (Mr. Muggins) had not unfrequently no- ticed a similar coincidence in respect to him- self; and he could not do otherwise than deeply deplore the existence of so great and crying an evil. ; “TO be sure,” cried My Mugeins; “ collect perfectly well, when we had rious dinner at the Waterspout and 7) to celebrate the resignation of the Mil Water Ministry and the triumph of the Small- Beer party in the House, that I couldn’t stand any how upon the cursed paving-stones.” “ No one ever can,” indignantly cried Cap- tain Walsingham, whose patriotic soul was fired with the idea of liberating his fellow- countrymen from so horrible a predicament. “The government must answer to a justly- incensed people for this state of things; and it, would be strangely embarrassed how to do so, if I did not aid it in its difficulty by pro- posing a substitute for the crying nuisance.” “ I see, I see,” said Mr. Mugyvins, catching a spark of that fire which animated his com- panion. “ And how much ready money’shall we want to commence our operations ?” “The nominal capital is of course a mil- lion,” ejaculated Captain Horatio Clarence Walsingham: “but all that we actually re- g- Company’s receiving e - . % bg * ‘ ars * Ce > ee i ee 3 F KW ICK ABROAD. ‘ 125 quire at first is about five hundred to a thou- sand pounds.” ~~ aor % . “And where the ¢ leuce is It to come from ?” demanded Mr. Muggins,. 1 er pa ll advance the cash,” “The capitalist who w continued the Captain, without not: } quéstion, “is to receive a bonus of five pe cent mie than any other person connected. with the Company.” “CT eee “ Well—that is \but fair,” murmured Mr. Mugginy at Ny “, e will have other perquisites and privileges, too numerous to mention,” added Captain Walsingham. “For instance, such capitalist shall have the night of advanemg .as much money to the Company, at the above-mentioned rate, as he chooses. What do you think of that?” cowl Admirable !” exclaimed Mr. Muggins, “ And he shall have it in his power,” pro- ceeded the Chairman, “to prevent the Com- pany from applying to any other individual for loans, so long as he chooses to furnish them: hinself.” . , “Very eligible—very eligible, indeed!” yen Mr. Muggins. “Them is tempting ers.” wh; “ And the Company shall bind itself to re- ceive, through its treasurer, all the sums he may be desirous of investing in the concern,” id the Chairman: “and you may depend upon it, that I will use my influence to in- ‘duce the board. of directors to accept of as large a loan as such capitalist may wish te advance, Nay, more—we will draw up a " deed, by virtue of which the said capitalist shall have it in his power to insist upon the e loans.” “You know my eapital.is all locked up,” began Mr. Muggins, whom these advantage- ous proffers greatly interes: oe “ And in order to accommodate such capi- talist,” hastily continued Captain Walsing- ham, “the money or monies, to be furnishec shall be advanced upon bills; and, what is" more—the Company shall pay for the stamps?” ae m2 The annals of Joint; Stock Companies (even in the panic year) do not furnish such a re- murtinble instance of liberality and kindness on the part of any of those vast public enter- prises which reflect so much honor upon the nation, as this which it is now our pleasure and our pride to put upon record. Even Mr. Muggins himself was astonished at the gen- erosity of the Chairman ; and the production of the. spirit-stand, with two small glasses, was the most emphatic proof of his gratitude Sw ? ‘s ae a i GOMmMlGooo (9) CON