Pickwick Abroad: or, The Tour in France — page 49: what you’re looking at

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

20 Pickwick Abroad. continued Mr. Crashem, energetically; ‘ and a deuced difficult thing it is to get a bit of stiff done amongst them, too. But talking of dis- counting,” added Mr. Adolphus rashem, ‘ puts me in mind of an extraordinary manner in which I did a bill about six months ago. Only conceive, Mr. Pickwick, my dear Sir—for a good bill I got but fifty pounds in ready money—the bill was for 200/.—fifty pounds’ worth of squibs and a hundred pounds in patent sky-rockets.” be. Patent sky-rockets!’’ ejaculated Mr. Pickwick, starting in his chair. - ‘“¢ Patent sky-rockets !’”” ejaculated Mr. Winkle. “ Yes—patent sky -rockets and squibs,” reiterated Mr. Adolphus Crashem; “which I immediately exchanged for the small, but more convenient commodity, of 35/. sterling,” ‘* At such an enormous loss!” cried Mr. Pickwick. “Oh! that is nothing, my dear Sir,” returned the young gentleman, with a knowing wink at Mr. Winkle. ‘On another occasion I got a very respectable discounter—in the city, too—to do me a bill of 10007—one thousand, mind, or I’m no gentleman—and what do you think he gave me?” “Really I cannot say,” returned Mr. Pickwick; “ perhaps nine hundred and ninety pounds.” “Nine him and ninety fiddlesticks!” cried Mr. Adolphus Crashem, contemptuously. ‘I just received two hundred pounds in ready money—three hundred in Chinese turnpike bonds—four hundred in Persian scri d another hundred in Newcastle coals.” Mr. Pickwick looked at Mr. Winkle—and Mr. Winkle looked at Mr. Pickwick—and then they both looked at Mr. Adolphus Crashem in silent astonishment, satisfied in their own minds that they were in the presence of a very extraordinary young man, who had seen a great deal of the world, and had turned his knowledge of that world to a very singular account. ‘Ah! ah! you may look at and smile with each other, gentlemen,” cried Mr. Adolphus Crashem, after a pause; “ but I’ve seen a little of life, I flatter myself. Brought up atone of the universities—sent early into the army—appointed page of honour to his late majesty at the age of sixteen and nine months—very familiar with all the young ladies about Court, you know—why, the devil’s in it if I have not had my share of experience ;—” and in the heat of the moment Mr. Crashem flourished his right arm with such amazing rapidity, that Mr. Win- kle prepared to rush towards the door, in case any additional symp- toms of violent intentions should be manifested by the emphatic stranger. ‘6 You entered early into life, then,” said Mr. Pickwick, always de- sirous of sustaining a conversation. “Did I not?” exclaimed Mr. Crashem, answering a question by the facile and simple means of putting another: ‘‘ J should rather think so, confound it! If you had only seen me with my flea-bitten nag in the Park—” ‘Eh!’ said Mr. Pickwick. ‘ Yes—Sir,” continued Mr. Crashem; “‘ my flea-bitten little piece of horse-flesh—” COL q) NOOO KS (c@