Pickwick Abroad: A Companion to the Pickwick Papers — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

. rival. I - seized a pistol, and pointing it against the e ’ - ¢ . ; ~~ = itt * ‘« x , * . uF . + ; : eS » « y y thy. -_ rl | a PICKWICK ABROAD. * " . 465 teenth daughter, Amina, One day I was “Oh! that is nothing, my dear Sir,” re- in my private study, writing some letters’ to the ministers of foreign affairs of France and Spain—and very tedious work it was, by the bye—when I heard a female voice talking in the next room. I listened—I am horribly jealous, gentlemen—and 1 soon discovered that adored Amina was hearkening to the love-tales of a favored Dash me, if I knew what to do? I wainscot Peedivided my room from the ne where this pleasant scene was being. nacted—guided only by the sound of my rivals voice—I fired! A heavy thing tumbled to the ground, and a loud’shriek -rent the air. I rushed into the room, and i” % a. . lad € 7 ¢ found my riyal a corpse on the floor |” “ Gracious!” exclaimed Mr. Pickwick ; ‘how horrible! But what became of the young lady ?” rn “Her father turned her out of doors, and became a dancing-girl,” replied Mr. phus Crashem. “She afterwards re- nounced her creed, and married a Jew.” . “Singular episode in Turkish life,” re- marked Mr. Winkle. | “And highly illustrative of their man- ners, too,” exclaimed Mr. Crashem, “So I should imagine,” observed Mr, Pickwick, whose kindness of disposition led ¥ " him to concur in that which any less illus- trious man would have instantly rejected as a palpable falsehood, | hy “The Turks are a very seo people —very singular!” continued Mr. Crashem, energetically ; “and a deuced difficult thing it is to get a bit of stiff done amongst them, too. But talking of discounting,” added Mr. Adolphus Crashem, “ puts me in mind of an dxtractiinte manner in which I did a bill about six months ago. Only con- ceive, Mr. Pickwick, my dear Sir—for a good bill I got but fifty pounds in ready money—the bill was for 2001.—fifty pounds’ worth of squibs and a hundred pounds in patent sky-rockets.”” | “ Patent sky-rockets !” ejaculated Mr. Pickwick, starting in his chair. | _ “Patent sky-rockets!” ejaculated Mr. SENT ad eae “Yes—patent sky-rockets and squibs,” reiterated Mr. Adolphus Crashem ; “ which I immediately exchanged for the small, but - more convenient commodity, of 35/. ster- ling.” At such an enormous loss!” cried Mr. Pickwick. turned the young gentleman with a know- ing wink at Mr. Winkle. ‘ On another oc- casion I got a very respectable discounter —in the ciiy, too—to do mea bill of 10001. —one thousand, mind, or I’m no gentle- man—and what do you think he gave me ?” “Really I cannot say,’ returned Mr. Pickwick ; “perhaps nine hundred and ninety pounds.” | “ Nine hundred and ninety fiddle-sticks !” cried Mr. Adolphus Crashem, contemptu- ously. “I just received two hundred pounds # in ready money—three hundred in Chinese. turnpike bonds—four hundred in Persian scrip—and another hundred in Newcastle coals.” un Mr. Pickwick looked at Mr. Winkle—and Mr. Winkle looked at Mr. Pickwick—and then they both looked at Mr. Adolphus Crashem in silent astonishment, satisfied in their own minds that hey were in the pres- ence of a very extraordinary young man, © who had seen a great deal of the world, — and had turned his knowledge of that world to a very singular account. — “Ah! ah! you may look at and smile with each other, gentlemen,” cried Mr. Adol- phus Crashem, after a pause; “but I’ve seen a little of life, I flatter myself. Brought up at one of the universities—sent early into the army—appointed page of honor tc his late majesty at the age of sixteen and nine months—very familiar with all the young ladies about Court, you know—why, the devil’s in it if I have not had my share of experience ;’—and in the heat of the mo- ment, Mr. Crashem flourished his right arm with such amazing rapidity, that Mr. Win- kle prepared to rush towards the door, in case any additional symptoms of violen* intentions should be manifested by the em phatie stranger. “You entered early into life, then,” said Mr. Pickwick, always desirous of sustaining a conversation. “Did I not?” exclaimed Mr. Crashem answering a question by the facile and sim- ple means of putting another: “JZ should rather think so, confound it! If you had only seen me with my flea-bitten nag in the Park——” ~ “Eh!” said Mr. Pickwick. ~* Yes—sir,” continued Mr. Crashem ; “my flea-bitten little piece of horse-flesh-——” “How the or beast must have suffered |” cried Mr. Winkle, who still re- tained a lurking affection for an occasional Conniclooo SS (C©) mn