Pickwick Abroad: or, The Tour in France — page 305: what you’re looking at

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

PICKWICK ABKUAD. 280 - ecknowledge a small infant, which she possessed, as his own. Money is a strange dye for changing the colour of the glasses in the telescope drough which we look at other people’s faults; and if it have not the actual capacity of giving them the appearance of virtues, it at least essentially palliates the darkness of their shades. The music now struck up one of its gayest airs, which Mr. Weller nevertheless expressed his firm conviction to be “the tune the old cow died of,” and Madame Lejears was in the midst of one of those highly decent and fascinating attitudes which enabled the whole audience, as she made the circuit of the arena, to plunge their licentious looks into the recesses of her low-bodied corsage, when Mr. Weller felt his right arm suddenly pulled, and on turning to ascertain who had thus favoured. him, he distinguished the Bey and laughing countenances of Messieurs Brandenbergh and Peacock. ‘* Evenin’, gen‘lemen,” said Mr. Weller, adroitly pulling his fore- ock, ' ‘‘ Just the chap we want,” observed Mr, Peacock to Mr. Branden- ergh. wy ust,” coincided Mr. Brandenbergh with Mr. Peacock; and then they both surveyed Sam from top to toe with most critical precision ; while the object of their scrutiny threw himself gracefully back upon his seat and stared at them in return. . ‘* Will you step out with us a moment?” enquired Mr. Peacock, as soon as his survey was concluded. ‘* That ain’t wery difficult to do,” returned Mr. Weller. ‘* But von’t you say a vord to the governor fust ?” ‘* No—no—we haven’t got time now, Sam,” hastily observed Mr. Peacock. ‘‘We have some very particular business to transact, and’ must enlist your good will in our services.” ** Vell, gen’lemen,” said Mr. Weller, “‘if there ain’t no burglary and no willany in the matter, I’m your man. But if so be you're arter rob- ‘bin’ the Bank of France, or valkin’ into von of the churches, or a-aim- in’ at the King, I von’t have nothing for to say to you, as the devil ob- served to Don Giowanni,”’ “It’s all right, Sam,”’ said Mr. Brandenbergh ; “ and a devilish lucky chance it was too that brought us here to-night, or else we might never have thought of havin: recourse to your services.” ‘‘'Wery admirably reasoned,” remarked Mr. Weller; and, in obedi- ence to the impatient gesticulations of Mr. Peacock, he followed the two gentlemen out of the theatre, unperceived by Mr. Pickwick and his companions, who were at that moment discussing the merits of long and short petticoats. ‘“‘ Now, then—to business,” said Mr. Peacock, when himself, Mr. Brandenbergh, and Mr. Weller were safe in the open air, and at a suit. able distance from the equestrian circus:—‘‘ Now then to business,” “‘That’s vot the church-vardens say, ven they’re all drunk at the westry-dinner,” observed Mr. Weller. ‘* W ell—well—Sam,’’ cried Mr. Brandenbergh, impatiently. ‘* The fact is, we’re in a little difficulty at this moment—a small matter of ‘ debt—and—”’ _ An’ you ain’t got no muney to pay it,” said Mr. Weller. - .© Precisely,” returned Mr. Brandenbergh; “and, therefore we are a S 5} a WOO Ss (©)