Pickwick Abroad: or, The Tour in France — page 311: what you’re looking at

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

254 Pickwick Abroad. desirous of leaving—that is, merely absenting ourselves for a time from is city.” “6 al, Sir—take your places by the fust diligence, an’ be off like bricks,” suggested Mr. Weller. | ‘‘ That is precisely our plan,” said Mr. Peacock, impatiently. “‘ But writs are out against us—there’s no use in disguising the truth, d—n it !—our passports are stopped, and we can’t very well get away with- out them.”’ ** Vell, this 7¢ a rum go,” cried Mr. Weller. ‘‘ But in vot manner an’ by vot means can I assist you, gen’lemen ?” “ The truth is, Sam,—you must get us passports,” returned Mr. Peacock. ‘“‘ Where ?” enquired Mr. Weller. ‘* At the English consul’s office,” was the answer. ‘* An’ how ?” was the next and very natural query. Mr. Brandenbergh stepped forward to explain. ‘‘ Sam,” said that gentleman, prudently gliding a couple of Napo- leons into Mr. Weller’s hand— ‘““Wery powerful reasonin’ again you’ve begun vith,” interrupted Sam, as he conveyed the money to his breeches-pocket. ‘You must go the first thing to-morrow morning,” said Mr, Bran- denbergh, with an audible chuckle, “and ask for two passports, one for Mr. Tupman, and the other for Mr. Winkle. We can then get them filled up ourselves at the Prefecture, and must bear those gen- tlemen’s names as far as Boulogne. The English consul will give you the documents without the slightest hesitation.” ‘‘As for getting the dockyments, gen’lemen,” said Mr. Weller, “Tl villingly engage to do that ’ere, an’ no sangvinary mistake, as the polite nobleman observed to the Lord Chancellor in the Upper House. But, farther than that I'll not wentur’ my own personal and peculiar safety.” ‘‘That is all we require of you, Sam,” exclaimed Mr. Peacock. ‘Se mind and be punctual to-morrow morning, and come to us in the middle avenue in the Tuileries’ gardens.”’ “‘ Right as a trivet,”’ responded Mr. Weller; “‘ vich vos the remark made by the young lady ven they asked her how she felt as she vent to be married.” Messieurs Brandenbergh and Peacock then took leave of their functionary ; and pursued their way towards the Barriere de L’Etoile, while Mr. Weller himself returned to attend his master, and wait the issue of the performance. On the following morning Mr. Weller rose early, achieved his toilet and his'breakfast, and brushed away toward the English Ambassador’s Hotel, after having done the same to his master’s clothes. Arrived at the diplomatic abode, he passed quickly into a little office situate in the right-hand corner of the court-yard, near the gate, and was speedily in the presence of the consul himself. An elderly man, of ragged and tattered appearance, was already occupying that function- ary’s attention; and Mr. Weller therefore became an unavoidable spectator of the following scene, and a listener to the ensuing conver- sation. “Impossible, my good fellow,—totally impossible,”’ said the consul GOnnCDOOkKS (©) (c@