Pickwick Abroad: A Companion to the Pickwick Papers — page 76: what you’re looking at

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66. might have been meant for tenderness, conveyed a satisfactory answer. “Nor were you the other day about to marry an English nobleman ?” _?Tis true Inglis nobleman ask me—but ‘me love you,” was the response. ~ “Nor—in a moment of weakness—that is, being deceived by a villain—” . “Oh! what make you tink that?” inter- Yupted the young lady, in a whisper; tor, with most extraordinary penetration, she had eyidently divined the nature of Mr. Tupman’s intended question and implied suspicion. Matters were now placed on so pleasant and comfortable a footing, that a slight luncheon was ordered, and. an agreeable conversation ensued between the lovers thus easily reconciled. Indeed, Mr. Tupman was astonished at the turpitude of the world, when he reflected upon the manner in which the unblemished character of a virtuous young lady had been disparaged ; and he almost suspected that the account given of her former life by Vidocq was the result of a trick to separate him from a being he adored. Such were the beautiful and truly rational sentiments which filled his imagination, as he discussed general topics and mutton-cutlets with Mademoiselle de Volage. “And pray,” said Mr..Tupman, when the dejewner was cleared from the table, “what brought you in this quarter of the ~ city ?” «Me leave Paris at five of de clock dis evening,” replied Anastasie, in a voice ren- dered almost inaudible with emotion ; “and me come to take place by diligence for St. Omers.” | “Do you go alone?” inquired Mr. Tup- man hastily. — “ Alas! me obliged—my mother vary ill at her aunt’s, the Countess von Stracken- heim,” answered the fair Anastasie; “and me have business with one great lord’s wife at St. Omers.” Mr. Tupman appeared to reflect for a moment. He felt a lurking suspicion in his breast, that a conspiracy had been got up against him, to alienate his affections from his present companion; and he prudently resolved to show his friends that he was his own master, and at liberty to act as he chose in that as well as in every other mat- ter. He accordingly made up his mind to accompany Mademoiselle de Yolage to St. Omers. ce PICKWICK ABROAD. Great men, when \their minds are once bent upon a certain purpose, are invariably prompt. in the execution of their schemes. They are above the every-day system of maturely reflecting on the prudence of their measures, and demonstrate the magnitude of their talents by the daring promptitude of their actions. So it was with Mr. Tracy Tupman. Five, minutes were sufficient for that extraordinary and sagacious individual to communicate his plan to Mademoiselle Anastasie, to combat her modest but ill- sustained objections, and to pay for a couple of seats in the coupe of the diligence that was to start the same evening for St, Omers. He then wrote a note to Mr. Pick- wick, to inform his friend that business of urgent importance compelled him to leave Paris at a moment's warning, intending tc consign it to the two-penny post just as the diligence should be about to start. When these admirable arrangements were com- pleted, he accompanied his fair companions to the Prefecture de Police, for the purpose of having their passports signed for the place of their destination. . The morning had passed away as rapidly as time usually flies in that or any other case ; and Mr. Tupman hailed with delight the prospect of extending his travels, and of journeying in the society of one whom he was resolved in due season and place to install in the enviable position of Mrs. Tracy Tupman, The five horses were attached to the vehicle—Mr. Tupman and Mademoiselle Anastasie were safely ensconced in their places, and the diligence was about to issue from the yard, when the arrival of another passenger caused it to stop for a moment. , wp Mi 4 re: ay One seat only was vacant—and that was. the third place in the coupe. The stranger accordingly secured it forthwith ; but when he presented himself at the door, Mr. Tup- man recognised, to his infinite dismay, the well-known form and features of Mr. Adol- hus Crashem. “God bless me !” exclaimed Mr. Tupman ; “T really—my dear sir—” “Don’t disturb yourself, my dear fellow,” interrupted Mr. Crashem—for so we shall continue to call him, inasmuch as so he chose to call himself—as he took a corner seat, and gave a nod of recognition i: Mad- emoiselle de Volage, unperceived by that oung lady’s admirer. a a is “Very extraordinary encounter, this,” ob- served Mr. Tupman, as the diligence rolled Go DOG <SEGO