Pickwick Abroad: A Companion to the Pickwick Papers — page 79: what you’re looking at

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ad I had brought, to gaze upon the new-comer. A haggard-looking woman of about thirty, ‘with a child inher arms, also suffered her os to wander from the three francs her Sunday gown had procured for her susten- ance and the nourishment of her half-fam- ished babe; and three withered beldames, that resembled the witches in “ Macbeth” rather than human beings, relinquished— the first her ear-rings, the second her ivory crucifix, and the third her son’s only re- maining shirt for the’ purpose of taking a. near view of the individual who possessed and was obliged to pledge so handsome an article as the gold repeater. But when the chief clerk in the office spread the sum of eight hundred francs, or 32/. sterling, on the table before Mr. Tupman, the sunken eye of the young girl recovered some of its lost fire ; the miserable mother clasped her hands in agony together, as if the sight of so much money reminded her of better days, and made the present moment a thousand times more painful ; and the three old hags peered closely at the glittering heap, as if each one were calculating whether such a sum would not suffice her for the remainder of her haat A decrepit and infirm old man, who ad hitherto stood at a distance, now came forward and joined the group; and as his’ dimmed eye glanced towards the coin, he muttered somewhat concerning “/a loterie,” and apppeared to curse his fate that he had no more substance left to consign to the same infernal vortex whither he had doubt- less precipitated all the little treasure he had ever possessed. Mr. Tupman hastily gathered up the money that lay before him, _ the duplicate into his pocket, gave a ve-franc piece to the unhappy mother with the young child, took no notice of the other Saleh present, and retreated from the ismal scene as quickly as he possibly could tear himself from the spot. But that single rm amongst the thousands which human ife presents, was long present to his mem- ory. | ‘On his return to the hotel, Mr. Tupman placed the money in the hands of Mr. Crash-. em, by whom the bill was forthwith paid, and another account commenced, nothing i being farther from that gentlenran’s intention than the proposed departure for England. With a most laudable resolution, however, of doubling or trebling his capital according to circumstances, did he that night repair to the chief café in the town; and there he was speedily engaged in a game of ecarte PICKWICK ABROAD. 69 with the English who frequented that resort, and whose principal employment was the plunder of their unwary fellow-countrymen. A few of the elite English from Calais had moreover taken a trip to St. Omer’s on the eventful day alluded to; and by them wag Mr. Crashem as well treated as if he had fallen into the hands of a select party ok bush-rangers in New South Wales. Indeed, it is almost to be wondered that they suf- fered him to return with his coat aud boots to his hotel, at half-past three o’clock on the following morning. When Mr. Tupman descended from his bed-chamber to the breakfast-room, he was somewhat dismayed by the lengthened faces worn by his beloved Anastasie and his sincere friend, Mr. Adolphus Crashem ; and he already experienced no inconsidera- ble alarm relative to the projected trip to England. “What is the matter, now?’ inquired Mr: Tupman, almost afraid to speak. “Oh! dem robbers!” sobbed Mademoiselle Auastasie, as 1f her heart were ready to break. “Crashem, what is the matter ?” demand- ed Mr. Tupman, in an authoritative tone that he reserved for occasions of urgency and need. : “ My dear friend,” said Mr. Crashem, in a mournful voice, “a terrible misfortune has befallen us.. Last evening, King Leopold passed through the town on his way to Belgium—you know he has just been on a visit to England—and curiosity prompted me to go down stairs, after I had bade you good night, to see his turn-out. He bought those lovely pie-balds of my friend, Lord Spurrumup—” gt 2 “Well, well,’ interrupted Mr. Tupman, impatiently ; “ and the misfortune ?’ “ Ah! de misfortune,” echoed Anastasie, sobbing Jouder than ever. “J was looking at the king’s equipage,” continued Mr. Crashem, with difficulty sup- + pressing a laugh, for Mr. Tupman’s expres- sive countenance was contracted into the most hideous contortions ; “and it was then that the purse—” “What?” said Mr. Tupman, in a very faint tone of voice. “Evaporated like smoke!” added Mr Crashem. . “And the money?” inquired Mr. Tup- man, anxiously. “ With it,” said Mr. Yrashem, by way of reply. | MUG DOO wl <S CO