Pickwick Abroad: A Companion to the Pickwick Papers — page 20: what you’re looking at

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14 ya wick, with a benignant smile. that you are acquainted with my name— allow me to introduce you to my friend and companion, Mr. Nathaniel Winkle !” “Winkle !” exclaimed the young gentle- man, turning suddenly to that individual, who witiéed a little, and sat uneasily on his chair, afraid of undergoing a similar series of embracings and huggings to the one al- ready experienced by his great leader ; “most happy to know’ you also, Mr. Win- kle. My name is Crashem, eentlemen— Adolphus Crashem—son of the general of that name.” ie “ Ah! indeed,” said Mr. Pickwick, with a a. -bow and placid smile. “The name must be familiar to you,” ob- served Mr. Adolphus Crashem, with pecu- liar emphasis on the pronoun. | “Not very familiar” rejoined Mr. Pick- wick, with an appealing glance at Mr. Winkle. “ Not on very good terms with my father, though,” said the young gentleman. “ The aid boy has a will of his own, Mr. Pickwick —like all very old men—he is past ninety —and Iam his only son. Forty thousand pounds a year sure—all entailed, and no mistake.” “That is very lucky,” observed Mr. Pick- wick, alluding to the absence of any irregu- larity in the nature of the entail. > “ No—no—all right in that quarter, thank God,” continued Mr. Adolphus Crashem— “right as the mail, my boy. But this old father of mine must needs interfere in my matrimonial intentions—and a very lovely girl—daughter of an illustrious baronet— pines after me at this moment. Don’t dare offend the old boy—else quarterly supplies d—d soon cut off, you know ;’—and Mr. Crashem smiled in a peculiarly cunning manner. “Ah! that’s it, is it ?” gaid Mr. Winkle, with an equally cunning smile and chuckle, probably occasioned by certain reminis- cences, the nature of which the reader is already acquainted with. “Sir William Grinwell, of Grinwell Park, Somersetshire, is the father of my intended,” said Mr. Crashem; “and a devilish good fellow he is too. Was arrested six months ago for a cool fifty thousand—lost at play —on a bill, mind—and he stumped down in a jiffey to prevent my father from know- ing it. Will give his daughter four times as much on her wedding day—without settle- ment, too—that’s the best of it ha! ha! ha!” PICKWICK ABROAD. “And now a Ms 4 At this moment the waiter entered the room, and informed Mr. Adolphus Crashem that the landlord of the hotel would be glad to say two words, to him in the passage. Mr. Adolphus Crashem made a wry face at this communication, which private reasons, however, did not allow him toneglect. He accor rdingly went to meet the landlord in the passage, as he was desired. “Nice young man, that,’ said Mr. Pick- | wick, | alone. “And devilish well served Mr. Winkle. By “Brilliant prospects he appears to have,” continued Mr. Pickwick. “T should like to be only half as well off,” returned Mr. Winkle, ggPPressing a sigh of envy. “e Dear me, how loud they. are talking in the passage,” cried Mr. Pickwick; “I can | almost hear what they say !” «‘He is most likely blowing the landlord ‘up for something,” suggested Mr. Winkle. “ How foolish of hotel- keepers not to know their own interests, and try to keep © a good customer!” said Mr. Pickwick. © “Well, then—for to-day only—and_re- collect it is the last!” exclaimed a loud voice in the passage, which was not the voice of Mr. Adolphus Crashem; upon which the door again opened, and that gen- tleman entered the room, having concluded his tete-a-tete with the landlord. ‘*Shockin scots' in France,” said Mr. Crashem, when he had once more settled himself fi the fires _ “Do they. indeed | Q” inqigfed Mr. Pick- wick, glancing at the wall. «Yes ;—why, couldn’t you hear rhas when he and Mr. Winkle were again connected, i,” a ob- | = bad. they build their wain- | passed between us in the passage?” de-_ manded the young gentleman, somewhat — anxiously. “Oh! no,’ Ares Mr. Winkle ; “not in the least.” “ Well, then, they ain’t so very bad,” re- ‘marked Mr. Adol hus Crashem, br ‘chten- ing up, and wondering i in his own mind how the landlord’s voice did. not penetrate through the wainscot which was a couple of inches thick. “Talking of waldscots;” continued Mr. Crashem, “ ‘puts me in mind of a singular story connected with a wain- scot. When I was attache to the English ambassador at Constantinople, I lodged and © boarded with a Turkish family, and fell desperately in love with the old Turk’s fif- 4 CORnNICLOOOKKS see)