Pickwick Abroad: or, The Tour in France — page 210: what you’re looking at

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

Pickwick Abroad. 163 epidemic disease rages amongst tnem—my father is sorely afflicted with the malady—we have applied in various quarters to procure his removal to the hospital of the Hotel Dieu—-and, having failed, were referred to you.” ** You ask no more!” ejaculated the Public Accuser, astonished at the smallness of the maiden’s demand. ‘“No more,” was the answer; “‘ and if I be successful in obtaining the grant of this boon, my heart will be relieved from a heavy load.” “It may be done—it t# possible to accomplish it,” said Fouquier- Tinville, musing, and revolving a hellish project in his mind. ‘‘ But,” he added, suddenly, ‘‘ you said ‘sve applied in various quarters,’—-te whom did you allude ?”’ ‘“To my mother and myself,” replied Marguerite, a tear trickling down her beautiful cheek. ‘‘ "Tis well,” observed Tinville ; and he paused for some moments, during which he threw himeelf on his chair, appeared desirous of com- municating his wishes to the innocent girl, and yet dared not address her in a disrespectful manner. ‘ Call to-morrow morning, citoyenne —and I will decide,’ at length exclaimed the Public Accuser, an evanescent flush passing over his countenance—“ to-morrow, at one o'clock precisely—and fail not to be punctual.” ‘* A father’s life depends upon my punctuality,” cried the admirable daughter: “‘ fear not any delay on my part.” ‘« Stay—,” said the republican, after another moment’s reflection : **come not hither—I have my reasons, citoyenne—but meet me on the terrace that overlooks the Seine, in the Gardens of the Tuileries.” ‘‘] will be there,” returned Marguerite, a gleam of joy passing over her countenance: ‘‘ depend upon my punctuality—1. will be there !’"—and with these words, which she repeated several times, she curtsied profoundly and took her leave of one whom public report had represented to her as the most unbending and inaccessible of men, and whose presence she had at first sought with sentiments of horror as profound as those with which she would have approached the den of a venomous serpent or rabid animal. Delighted with the reception she had experienced, and the prospect of alleviating the sufferings of a beloved father, however great might be the price she would be doomed to pay, Marguerite d’ Ermanville issued from the hotel of the Public Accuser with a light heart and airy tread. She crossed the Pont des Arts, traversed the large parallelo- gram of the Lofvre, and turned into the Rue Saint Honoré, down which she walked a few paces in the direction of the Halle. Presently she stopped at the gate of a house of modest appearance,—looked up to assure herself that she had not mistaken the number, and entered the building in which the apartments occupied by herself and mother were situate. Those apartments were on the fifth floor, and thither the beautiful girl hastily mounted with the same light heart and airy tread as when she retired from the presence of Fouquier-Tinville. The door was opened by a lady, who had probably numbered forty sum- mers, and who immediately saluted Marguerite by the appellation of “ Daughter !”’ ** My boon will be granted, dearest mother!’ cried the amiable girl, M 2 GOMICOOOo q) (c@