Pickwick Abroad: or, The Tour in France — page 335: what you’re looking at

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

274 Pickwick Abroad. smoke; one horse cantered, and the other ambled; and the four gentlemen in the interior of the vehicle all talked at once in imita- tion of the heated debates which frequently occur in the House of Commons. Time accomplishes much. The carriage at length arrived at Mr. Chitty’s abode on the Boulevard Parnasse ; and as a matter of course Mr. Tupman, Mr. Winkle, and Mr. Walker accepted the poet’s invita. tion to ascend to his apartments and take “just one glass of cognac and water,’ to keep the damp air out. Mr. Walker declared that such a step was in perfect accordance with his system : the bill accord- ingly passed without a dissentient voice; and in two minutes they were all seated at a clean white deal table in Mr. Chitty’s dining- room. The dirty English servant was then aroused from a nap in the chimney corner ; and the potables, which Mr. Chitty had tendered, were soon supplied in the parlour, while Mr. Weller was accommo- dated witha bottle of beer in the kitchen. In the course of a few minutes, when the conversation was becom- ing general, the servant girl recollected that there was a letter for her master. The missive was accordingly produced; Mr. Chitty broke it open—perused it with an eye (the reader will recollect that he could not always see with the other) of delight—and then addressed his com- panions as follows :— ‘‘ My dear friends, I have an opportunity of procuring you to-morrow morning the most delectable treat in existence.” Mr. Winkle was so highly delighted with this announcement, that he was compelled to swallow a whole tumbler of brandy-and-water to restrain his emotions. He then looked so exceedingly wise and sapient, that Mr. Chitty was perfectly lost m admiration at the excite- ment he had created. ‘* Yes,’ continued that great, but neglected genius; ‘‘ to-morrow my friend Goble lectures upon craniology !”’ ‘“'You don’t say so!” exclaimed Mr. Winkle, as if he had been an opposition member, cavilling at the amount of the budget. ‘I do, indeed,” said Mr. Chitty seriously. ‘‘ But—my dear friend, Hamus Ambulator, Hook Walker—you don’t drink anything. Come, my good fellow—scinde vid—cut away !”’ “You can’t take us, can you?’ demanded Mr. Winkle, closing one eye, and looking very sagaciously with the other. | ‘‘ Certainly—with great pleasure,” rejoined Mr. Chitty. “I will call and fetch you and Tupman to-morrow morning at ten precisely. Perhaps Pickwick will accompany us. As for our friend Walker—” ‘*Oh! I will just drop in and breakfast with you,” said Mr. Hook Walker, addressing himself to Mr. Tupman; ‘‘and then we can go together.”’ atters having been placed upon this very agreeable footing, the brandy-and-water was discussed, Mr. Chitty received the adieus of his friends, and the services of the green britzka were again put into uisition. e will not dwell upon the arrival of Messieurs Tupman and Winkle at their own abode—nor on the surprise which they manifested when they heard the history of the adventures at the mad-house from the lips of their great leader, who nevertheless made no mention of the COL q) NOOO KS (c@