Pickwick Abroad: or, The Tour in France — page 177: what you’re looking at

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

134 Pickwick Abroad. ‘¢T shall leave that for another time, my dear Sir,”’ answered Mr. Chitty, rising and preparing to take leave. ‘‘ All I had to say, was re- lative to the editing of the work; but—for the present—since the chorus strikes your fancy—we will postpone any conversation on that head. Gentlemen—onuse dies—good day !’’—and havi repeated these words three or four times, Mr. Septimus Chitty, finding that he had nothing more to do with Mr. Pickwick’s business, went about his own. Mr. Septimus Chitty had scarcely left the room five minutes, when his visit was succeeded by that of the Gendarme, who was dressed in plain clothes for the momentous occasion he had in view. We need scarcely say that the excellent-hearted Frenchman was received with fitting cordiality by Mr. Pickwick and his friends, or that the utmost alacrity in preparing for departure was demonstrated by those gentle- men so soon as M. Dumont had specifically stated his hopes of re- covering a portion of Mr. Tupman’s property. Mr. Boozie, however, declined accompanying the party, as he intended to return to Calais by the mail that evening, and had a few calls to make, besides some com- missions to execute, which would entirely engross the remainder of the morning. He therefore took leave of his friends, in case he should not see them again previous to his departure (for the malle-poste left the post-office at six o’clock precisely), and actually shed tears when he grasped the hand of the principal actor on the s of our present memoirs. Even Mr. Weller was sensibly affected by the meditated departure of a worthy though eccentric man; but his feelings were speedily and materially relieved by the contiguity of the two five-franc pieces which Mr. Boozie slipped into his hand. A hackney-coach was immediately summoned, and Mr. Pickwick, followed by the Gen- darme, Mr. Tupman, and Mr. Winkle, crept into the vehicle, while Mr. Weller contrived to carry himself to the seat next to the driver on the box. The Gendarme then gave the coachman a certain address, and the fiacre moved away from the gate of the hotel as speedily as one lame horse, and another that shyed every time it passed a vehicle, could make it, After a short ride of about half-an-hour, the coach stopped at a large gate-way, and the Gendarme desired his companions to follow him. Mr. Weller, who thought he might as well be a spectator of what was going on, brought up the rear; and in due order was the procession ushered, at one and the same time, into the office, and the presence of the celebrated Vidocq himself. The ex-galley-slave and ex-president of the Board of Public Safety rose, as his visitors entered the room, and received them with that cordiality and politeness which so eminently characterize the manners of the French, from the paladin in his splendid hotel in the Faubourg Saint Germain, to the humble peasant in the vales of Savoy. A brief conversation then ensued in their native language, between the Gen- darme and Vidocq, which having been disposed of, the latter addressed himself to Mr. Tupman in tolerable English, and interrogated that gentleman as follows. ‘‘ What value, Sir, do you set on the watch of which you were plundered ?”’ ** It was a present from my friend Pickwick,” responded Mr. Tup- COL (©) NOOO KS (c@