Pickwick Abroad: or, The Tour in France — page 163: what you’re looking at

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

PICKWICK ABRUAD. 137 tion made by the mas’er chimbley-svcep, ven he pushed the little tiny boy up the chimbley,”’ ; ** Indeed!’ said Mr. Pickwick, with a shudder: ‘are chimney- sweepers so cruel as all that, Sam ?” ‘Them and costermongers, Sir,” replied Mr. Weller, ‘‘is the most hard-hartedest brutes a-livin’, if ve ex-cept the chaps as drives the dog-carts. None on ’em ever ends any-veres, save at the gallows.” ‘‘ Very strange!” cried Mr. Pickwick, opening the note, and perus- ing its contents from the date to the signature. ** What does it say?” inquired Mr. Winkle, when he observed the bland and placid smile that played upon the lips of his leader. ‘“‘ It regards Tupman, principally,” said Mr, Pickwick with a little hesitation. ‘* But as it would be ridiculous, Tupman,” continued he, ‘‘ to keep the affair any longer secret from our mutual friends, I may as well take this opportunity of acquainting them with the villain- ous robbery that was committed upon you. Sam, you may withdraw.” Mr, Tupman bowed submissively as Mr. Pickwick addressed him, and Mr. Weller forthwith obeyed the imperial ukase that dismissed him from the presence. Mr. Pickwick then made a few prelimin and lucidly explanatory observations, for the especial edification of Messieurs Boozie and Winkle; at the termination of which he in- formed his audience that the note he held in his hand was from their mutual friend Dumont, and that its contents, expunged of all gram- matical errors—it being written in English—were as follows :— ‘¢ My dear Sir, ‘* Information having been privately given at the Prefec- ture de Police, that a most audacious and extensive robbery was com- mitted on the person of Mr, Tupman, a few evenings ago, I am inclined to think that the gold watch may Provably be recovered. In order to advise with you on this subject, I took the liberty of calli this morning, but was not fortunate enough to find you at home. shall therefore do myself the pleasure of waiting upon you, if conve- nient, at eleven precisely, to-morrow morning, and hope to render you an essential service, at the same time that I shall gratify your curios- ity in search of useful information, by conducting you and your frends to the office of no Jess a person than the immortal Vidocq himself! ’ A Monsieur, Monsieur, | “ Pickwick, &c., &c. NT,” This communication instilled a considerable quantity of joy into the hearts of the four gentlemen, as they seated themselves at the dinner-table, in obedience to the summons of their appetites and of a waiter simultaneously; and the evening was bly passed in the vleasing anticipation of the novel adventure which awaited them for the ensuing morning, Wery queer nation this is sure-ly, Sir,”’ said Mr. Weller, when he attended his master in that gentleman's bed-room. ‘So I perceive, Sam,” said Mr. Pickwick, putting on his nighi-cup. ‘¢ Ran agin a gen‘leman this mornin’, Sir,’”’ continued Mr. Weller, lescriptively, ‘*an’ nearly knocked him head-over-heels into the gutter. Vos just a-goin’ for to offer a ap-pology, ven he turns Very truly poo DUMO (COLA @ 6)(0)() cS (c©)