Pickwick Abroad: or, The Tour in France — page 167: what you’re looking at

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

126 Pickwick Abroad. if one could judge by the manner in which he swallowed the strong burnt punch. oe Mr. Pickwick accordingly transcribed the Marsetilazse in the pages of his private note-book; and then Mr. Walker recollected that he had an appointment at a hotel close by. “< Bre fact is,” said that systematic individual, ‘‘ 1 am a member of a very useful club or association, which meets once a month to transact business and audit accounts; and this is the day of rendez-vous. I would not be absent for the world.” . ‘* Might I inquire a heok of the club, Sir?” said Mr. Pickwick, again opening his note- and preparing to write. ‘6 Decidedly,” answered Mr. Walker, deliberately filling the tum- blers round; “a desire to give information whenever I can, is one of the most important principles of my system.” ‘¢ And the name—” said Mr. Pickwick, with his pencil in his hand. “Ts,” continued Mr. Walker, ‘“ ‘ The-Anti-getting-into-debt- amongst-the-F rench, - 80-as-not-to-give-them-cause-to-suspect-the-ho- nour-and-integrity-of-the-English-abroad-Association.’ ” ‘‘ Ah!” said Mr. Pickwick, scribbling a few hieroglyphics on the of his note-book, and then closing it with unusual precipitation. fe And a very useful society, I dare say it 1s,” he added drily. ‘I once knew the president of a society,” began Mr. Boozie; then, suddenly recollecting himself, he said, ‘Oh! no—I beg your pardon — 'twas the secretary, when I think of it—” ‘¢ Ah! who called me?” interrupted Mr. Walker, starting from his chair, and gazing anxiously through the window. ‘Oh! I see—my friend, Mr. What’s-his-name. One moment, gentlemen ;’’—and with this apology, Mr. Hook Walker hastened out of the Café, intimating a second time that he should return as speedily as possible, and re- questing his friends to wait for him, as it was not a part of his system to stay long at the association with the facile and brief name, when his time could be more agreeably employed. It is true that Mr. Tup- man had a lurking suspicion in his mind that Mr. Walker would not keep his promise; he, however, held his peace; and it was only at the expiration of an hour, that Mr. Pickwick ventured to s t the pro riety of retiring, as it did not appear probable that Mr. Hook er would again favour them with his presence on that occasion. The little party accordingly returned to Meurice’s Hotel. ‘¢ Gen’leman bin here, Sir,” said Mr. Weller, who, from lurki idly at the gate, had relapsed into that predicament of activity, whic was necessary to convey him to his master’s ent. ‘* Who was it, Sam ?” inquired Mr. Pickwick, seating himself by the side of a wood fire, which seemed to be as obstinately inclined as ever three dead logs with one cubic inch of hot cinder between them ever et did. ee Johnny Darmy, Sir,” returned Mr. Weller, in a certain epigram- matic style mto which he occasionally relapsed. “¢ !’? said Mr. Pickwick; “‘and did he leave any message ?”— for the intelligent hero of this narrative, with his usual comprehen- sive powers, Immediately suspected the name of his visitor. ‘* Left this ‘ere note, Sir,’ answered Mr. Weller, ‘“‘and said he vouldn’t take no refusal votsoever; vich vos precisely the obserwa- COL (©) NOOO KS (c@