Pickwick Abroad: A Companion to the Pickwick Papers — page 98: what you’re looking at

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

- a 7 . ‘ i ag. fA y + re So ow meaning, and striking his left breast forcibly with his clenched fist, like a loverin a tragedy. : tt “Thank God!” exclaimed Mr. Winkle, throwing his hat upon the floor, unbuttoning his waistcoat, and gasping for breath: “ I’m not too late, then!” “How do you do, Winkle?’ said Mr. Crashem, nodding familiarly to that gentle- man, and exhibiting unequivocal signs of delight at the scene that was being enacted around him. “Have another go at the dice-box, old fellow—eh? Seven’s the main, you know—don’t be down-hearted, ~ as my friend the Great Cham used to say.” ~“Tupman, my dear fellow,” cried Mr. Winkle, having now partially recovered his csual breathing-pace, “we have been most egregiously duped throughout this affair. My Madame de l Amour is no other than—” “ What?” interrupted Mr. Tupman, whose curiosity was excessive on account of his suspicions being now somewhat excited. in a certain quarter. | “Than your Mademoiselle Anastasie,” added Mr. Winkle, casting a look of the leepest indignation and another of the most tovereign contempt, admirably well blend- ed, at Mr. Adolphus Orashem, who fell back in his chair, and indulged in a roar of laugh- ter that shook the very casements of the apartment. Mr. Tupman looked the united libraries of London, Paris, and Vienna, and. felt a dozen Lardner’s “ Cabinet Cyclopzdias.” To think that only a few moments before, he was about to weep for the death of her who at that moment was again indirectly deceiving him !—and then the duplicity of his guondam friend, Mr. Adolphus Crashem! The ingenuity of that extraordinary indi- vidual, in Mr, Tupman’s idea, had elevated a common-place act into a masterly science: he had given to it dignity and grace; his lies had a richness, a persuasive eloquence, a smoothness in them, which rounded off their improbability, as oil often softens down. salad, and old pert relieves the as- perity of the olives. Before he had heard Mr. Crashem, lying was only lying: now it was. painting—poetry—drama—music : he. was a Correggio for softness of touch, a Rossini for promising sounds, a very Kemble for cajolery! Such were the ruminations of Mr. Tupman, while the subject of them was giving free vent to his mirth, Mr. Win- kle was wiping his forehead with a silk pocket-handkerchief, and the lady’s-maid PICKWICK ABROAD. . yi Me e was recounting the adventu res of the Jast half-hour to her disappointed mistress, who — had already overheard a considerable por- tion of the proceedings. i | Mr. Winkle having now sufficiently re- covered his breath, and Myr. Tupman_ his » presence of mind, to make an immediate — exit from the apartments occupied by me” fair deceiver, they rose, and distantly bowing to Mr. Adolphus Crashem, who prudently tarried behind to console the disappointed Anastasie, withdrew, mutually congratulat- ing themselves and each other upon the’ narrow escape they had. experienced, and promising never to indulge their charitable intentions in future without being aware of the real character of the object of their solicitude. ES | r CHAPTER XVIII. The Drive to Surrenne.—The convenience of an Arbor in a Garden. Ne It was a fine day in the month of June,, that alight green britzka followed, on .certaim compulsory principles, a pair of somewhat lean horses down the Boulevard, Mont: Par- nasse. Sitting at ease in the britzka wi the illustrious Mr, Pickwick, and thre@ gen tlemen who had the supreme honor to be called the friends of that very remarkable hich direction are we going?” in- quired Mr. Tupman, after a short pause, during which the coachman had urged one of his steeds into a canter, and the other into a trot. Lt. “ Along the southern bank of the Seine, presently,” answered Mr. Walker; “and so on to the village of Su rrenne. It is a part of- my system to visit the coronation of the Rosiere at that place every year.” “ And, pray, what is the object of the institution ?” demanded Mr, Pickwick. “ The most virtuous and circumspect girl of the community,” replied Mr. Honk Walker, “ig elected queen of the festival; and on her is the crown of roses hestowed, together with a donation of three hundred francs.” “ How exceedingly interesting !” observed Mr. Pickwick in the true spirit of philan- thropy. yr A Yales wee « And highly beneficial to. the morals of the inhabitants of Surrenne,” remarked Mr, Winkle. mf a 10\OO) (-) (C(O) (C (0) ¥.