Pickwick Abroad: A Companion to the Pickwick Papers — page 140: what you’re looking at

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

4 : a - | 2 j ¥ * ; M4 “os i m e& i . i ms i 126 PICKWICK ABR yp which he could at the moment possibly think ““ Mary,” said he, for into domestic affairs, some that gintdecanter—I know they have.” “Lor, Sir!” cried the domestic; “who could have been at it?” Missus don’t drink » sperets of a mornm’;, and you ape I wouldn’t touch a drop to save my existence.” Mr: Muggins swore that he did not know any such thing; and he rapped out a good number of oaths to support his assertion. “Tm blessed if ever I touched it,” cried the unfortunate cook. “Td scorn to do sich a thing.” 7 an instant relapsing le one has been at She, however, had the prudence and pre-_ sence of mind to ‘stand as far off from her | master as possible, her breath having a very unpleasant predilection to exhale certain spi- rituous odors at that time in the morning, as mdeed it also did throughout the day. ~ “Well, Mary,” returned Mr: Mugging, “it’s no use talking nor persisting to the contrarry, ‘cos some one has been to them there bot- tles. But we won't say no more about it now: I dare say I shall find ‘out the thief afore long, for 'm blowed if I don’t pison something, if things continues to go on in this sort o'way.” 4 The cook did intimate, as she bounced ou of the room, that her master might procee a a visit, as soon as he likedand for any- but she was not precisely understood by Mr. . Muggins: and soher permission to undertake this journey was not noticed on the part of him for whose behoof it was expressed. ~ “Taste this rum,” said Mr. Muggins; and he filled two wine glasses wit juice of Jamaica’s choicest productions. “Excellent!” eried the Captain, smacking his lips, and setting down the glass which he had emptied. . “Yes—it isn’t bad,” said Mr. Muggins. “But—I tell you what—an idea has entered my head.” : : “No!” ejaculated the,Captain, with an affectation of the deepest astonishment. | * “Honor bright!” exclaimed Mr. Mug- gins; and he bestowed a most sapient and evenoscent wink upon his companion, “Well, what is it, now?’ demanded the _ eminent Chairman: “something good, J dare say !” . Why—t don’t mind,” began Mr. Muggins, speaking very deliberately, as he unfolded - his plan, and re-filled the glasses with equal caution,—“ T don’t mind if I let you have a assuming a most solemn expression of coun- tenance,—“ Muggins, I am. your friend. 1. esteem you. realized in modern times ! @ that she cared, to his Satanic Majesty,: the | oe little advance—a small loan! you know— myself ("4 ‘6 Muggins,”” ‘said Captain “Walsingham, I like you. I admire you. You are a man Cia the world, Muggins. Give me your hand. SEL res hoe And the hand of Mr. Muggins was there upon clasped in the hand of Captain Wal, 7 e It was thus that those great men demo n epee their-friendship foreach other; and if Hh butjchange the name of Mug- gins into Pythias, and Walsingham. into Damon, shall) sée the ancient legend ~ By one of those strange coincidences which not unfrequently characterize mun- dane affairs, Captain Walsingham had a bill for five hundred pounds already drawn out upon the proper stamp, in his pocket. This little incident excited a great deal of laughter betggen the two gentlemen, on account of the strangeness of it; as it was not for a moment"to be supposed that the result of the conference could have been anticipated by either. i ish ‘Odd—wasn’t it ?” observed the Captain. “Very,” returned Mr, Muggins. “Just the amount, perhaps,” said the Chairman. | ‘ « Fixactly !” exclaimed the capitalist. “Youll saccept it, then ?’, inquired the Captain. 2 “On the conditions proposed,” was the reply. of a f “ Fire» away, then,” jocosely urged the plant Pa ptain Walsingham. “ Here’s pe ink-stand,” said Mr. Muggins, reaching one from the mantel-piece: “but where’s the pen?”—and he gave another furious pull at the bell. “Mary's coming,” said Captain Walsing- ham, perceiving that Mr. Muggins was about to repeat the summons with additional | violence, “ Mary,” cried Mr. Muggins, as the cook entered the room; “there was a pen in this ink-stand only an hour ago!” “I’m sure I haven’t touched it,’ cried the servant. “ Who has, then ?” demanded Mr. Muggins, jn a tone and a manner which showed that he treated the affair with a little more seriousness than perhaps it really deserved. “ Lor, sir, how do I know?” returned the cook, “There’s Miss Anna-Maria has been in here this morning; and Miss Arabella (CO) 10)(OXO) @) (CO)