Pickwick Abroad: or, The Tour in France — page 282: what you’re looking at

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

232 PICKWICK ABRUAD. tryin’ to awoid, if I hadn’t relieved your wants ?’—‘ Vy, Su,’ replies the beggar-man vith a arch smile, ‘I must ha’ gone for to vork !’” Just as Mr, Weller brought his truly instructive anecdote to a con- clusion, Mr. Pickwick, accompanied by Mr. Septimus Chitty, returned home. The venerable gentleman was in high glee; a smile of satis- faction illumed his expressive countenance; and Mr. Septimus Chitty himself was radiant with joy, as he consulted the time-piece, or fem. pus-paz, as he classically styled it. It appears that those two ilus- trious individuals had been pursuing their antiquarian researches in the very heart of the Faubourg St. Germain, and that accident had thrown m their way a most singular Legend connected with the magnificent church of St. Sulpice. Mr. Chitty had not failed to take notes of all the particulars connected with that saered fane; and when it was sug. gested by Mr. Pickwick that the. Legend had better be a little cur- tailed, he very properly declared ‘‘ that in such matters it was necese sary to go totum porcum—the whole hog.” As this argument was supported by a certain kind familiarity, which prompted the poet to designate Mr. Pickwickas a senex tango, or an “old touch’’—an alle- gorical method of expressing veneration or friendship, considerably in vogue in high life—he was allowed to have his own way; and in the course of a few hours the Legend was digested to his heart's content, We accordingly take this opportunity of laying the substance of it before our readers. eee CHAPTER XXVIII. THE CHEVALIER.—A LEGEND OF ST. SULPICE. THE CHEVALIER.-—-EUGENIE.-—-THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS.-—THE {[N- AUSPICIOUS MARRIAGE, AND THE MY8TERIOUS CONDUCT OF THE YOUNG PRIEST.——SUSPICIONS.—-THE CONFESSIONAL-BOX, Tae Chevalier de Valmont was a perfect specimen of the aristocracy of the old regime. He was about five-and-forty years of age, ex- tremely well-preserved, and scarcely affected by the ravages of time, so far as they regarded his hair and teeth. A wrinkle or two was certainly traced upon his forehead; but as his countenance was gene- rally expanded into smiles, the invidious line was scarcely visible. His full grey eye was bright, and a aa of the most perfect good humour; his complexion slightly florid; his mouth small; his figure rather inclined to embonpoint ; and his feet and amkles diminutive to a fault. He was composed of compliments, boxs mots, and bows. His manners were the most polished and fascinating that could he conceived; and although his conversation was chiefly confined to trifles and those bagatelles that usually occupy the inmates of a salon doré, still was he invariably surrounded by a host of young people of both sexes, who delighted to listen to his discourse, to treasure up his choice sayings for second-hand retail at convenient opportunities, and to obtain an approving smile or a familiar nod from one whose society was more sought after than even that of young noblemen supé- ciur to the chevalier in personal attractions, wealth, and rank, 6)(0)) a S = a .S (CON