Pickwick Abroad: or, The Tour in France — page 284: what you’re looking at

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

eA PICKWICK ABROAD, he encountered the chevalier at the corner formed by the Rue de "Université and the Rue des Beaux Arts. ** A letter—~my dear friend —a letter of some importance,”’ was the ly. “Indeed, M. le Vicomte—ae letter that has afforded me con- si pleasure. You recollect my ancient school companion, Al- fred de Lamorean ?’’ “ Perfectly.” * He is to arrive in Paris this very day—he and his amiable family. I am about to seek a lodging for their reception and temporary abode, until they shall be able to suit themselves. A bachelor, my dear friend, is but an ill caterer for domestic comforts; but I must do my best, as I usually say in such cases.” “ Au plaisir, chevalier,” cried the Vicomte; “send me Lampreau’s atidrees in a day or two, and I will make a point of calling. dieu. 6 Adieu f° re-echoed the chevalier with his ysual half-familiar— haff-distantly courteous bow; and he pursued his way along (ae Rue de l’Université, in which street he was more likely to procure ready- furnished apartments than in any other on that side of the water, So soon as the chevalier had accomplished the object of his search, he returned to his hotel in the Rue de Lille, and gave orders to La- fleur, his favourite valet, not‘to admit any one save the Count de oreau, who was expected every moment. An hour passed away,,. and at the expiration of that period the clague of the postilion’s whip was heard in the street. The chevalier hastened to a window that afforded a view of the principal entrance of the hotel, just as a poste chaise, drawn by four horses, and covered with dust, galloped inte the court-yard. Not all the treasures of the universe—nor all the ties of ancient friendship—would have compelled the chevalier te descend and assist M. de oreau and his family to alight from then carriage; but when they were shown into the apartment, where he awaited their arrival, he received them with a cordiality that evinced: his satisfaction and joy. M. de Lamoreau wasa little gentleman of about the same age as the: ehevalier: his excellent spouse was a talkative, but a lady-like woman; his only son was a young man of proud and haughty demeanour; but the count’s niece, Eugenie, was an angel of beauty. The chevalier, for: the first time in his life, stood abashed before a lovely female. The colour mounted to his cheeks—his hand trembled —and he could not utter a word to welcome the divine creature that began to partake of: his embarrassment. Two moments were, however, sufficient to enable- the chevalier to recover his usual equanimity of disposition, and he did the honours of his house with the distinguished politeness and. itality for which he was justly renowned. Eugenie was about eighteen. nacquainted with the gaieties and dissipation of the metropolis, she had passed nearly all her life ina secluded provincial town, and flourished like one of the flowers she had been accustomed to cull fh her own garden. Chaste aud pure were. her thoughts—virgin innocence was in her smile, on her trow, and in her bashful replies. The chevalier, who knew full well how to read’ the intricacies of the human heart, declared within himself that he had. never beheld so celestial a being; and certain vague and undefined: (COU ©) 6)(0)(6) cS (COIN