Pickwick Abroad: A Companion to the Pickwick Papers — page 152: what you’re looking at

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138 P PICKWICK ABROAD. ; * the ladies tothir shawls, cloaks, and bonnets, | was ogling a girl in one of thevlitile shops previous to their departure. + 4 ry —_—_——_—_— CHAPTER XXIX. tte Mr. Pickwick is introduced, to an eminent traveller, —The way to corcoct a book of travels.—Mr. Wegsworth Muffley’s ancestors —The Circas- sian Ladies. ~ Mr. Piexwick stood in Paris, on the Pont Neuf! Beside him was Mr. Tupman,—be- hind him was Mr. Weller,—before him was a view of the river and the palaces that adorn its banks,—beneath him was the pavement of the bridge,—and above his head was the blue and cloudless sky. Mr. Pickwick, ac- companied by Mr. Tupman, and attended by » Mr. Weller, was taking an afternoon-walk ; and the beauty of the western prospect which meets the eyes of the passenger over the Pont Neuf, had induced him to stay his steps for a few moments to enjoy the magnificence of the scene. s . And in truth itis a splendid view! On the right hand, the eye surveys the two finest facades of the Louvre, and the long wing of the Tuileries which looks upon the river. Farther on are perceived the terrace and the trees of the gardens themselves; and as the glance follows the right bank of the river, the Champs-Elysées, the buildings of Passy, _and the heights overlooking Auteuil, form a “scene of grandeur and beauty which cannot be very readily conceived by those who trust | to description only for an acquaintance with Paris. On the left hand are seen the vast edifices of the Mint, the College of Four Na- tions, the unfinished abode for the Minister of the Interior, the splendid barracks erected by Napoleon, the Chamber of Deputies, and the garden in front of the hotel occupied by the President of that legislative body. The numerous bridges, stretching across the river between the spacious quays—the large bath- ‘ing establishments, that float upon the waters themselves—and the statue of Henry the Fourth, standing upon a lofty terrace jutting out into the middle of the river from one ex- ‘tremity of the Island of the City—complete ‘the hasty sketch which we have given of this interesting prospect. _. “Charming view,” said Mr. Pickwick, ‘when he had feasted his eyes to his heart’s ‘content. “Beautiful,” observed Mr. Tupman, who upon the bridge. ¢ | fi “Vich vay now, sir,” inquired Mr. Wel- ler, touching his hat. ~ ai aie “Let us take a stroll towards’ N otre Dame,” said Mr. Pickwick; and im the di- rection proposed did they proceed accord- ingly. | ae “Wery great thoroughfare, this here, sir,” observed Sam, in allusion to the. Pont Neuf. %. | “Very,” comcided Mr. Tupman. “ Lots o’ vimen a-sellin’ o’ fried fish there in the open air, sir,” continued Mr. Weller. “The French seems to think. o’ nothin’ élse but eatin’, drinkin’ and dancin’. You seea feller vith a lemonade or liquorice-root-va- ter consarn on his back, at, every corner. The po-lice don’t overturn the fruit-stalls here as they does in London. Blowed if I don’t think von is more freer here than in England, sir.” : . “Tam rather inclined to’be of your opin- ion, too, Sam,” said Mr. Tupman. “But here’s Chitty, and another gentleman—a stranger, too, with a black patch over his left eye.” =. : Mr. Septimus Chitty was a poet, who had formerly introduced himself to Mr. Snodgrass, who had in turn introduced him to his friends, the immortal Pickwickians, “Bonus post meridiem—good afternoon, gentlemen,” cried the poet. “Allow me the pleasure of introducing’ my friend, Mr. Wegsworth Muffley, the great traveller. He’s just come to Paris to take notes for a 2w book.” . ‘These last words were delivered in a whisper; and Mr. Pickwick and Mr. Tup- man bowed politely to Mr. Muffiley, whose exceedingly capacious person and large round grinning face formed a striking con- trast with the lean exterior of Mr. Septimus Chitty. — . Great food for contemplation in this vast city, sir,” said Mr. Pickwick to the traveller. “Very great, sir,” returned Mr. Wegs- worth Mufiley, staring with his one eye into the window of a cook’s-shop opposite which they were standing, on the Quai des Orfevres. “Rather different in this respect from London.” “ And yet you never become sated with that which is afforded by Paris,” remarked Mr. Pickwick. , " “True enough !” exclaimed Mr Mnffley: “a bowl of turtle soup goes twice as far as COU (9) LNOOKS.E©