Pickwick Abroad: or, The Tour in France — page 52: what you’re looking at

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

Pickwick Abroad. 23 violently, as if he were determined to be obeyed; “none of your con- founded. gooseberry mixture, mind.” ; 7 “You appear to be acquainted with the ways of the French, Sir, suggested Mr. Pickwick, mildly, when the waiter had left the “Ob! hang them, they can’t take me in,” retuned Mr. Crashem, fiercely. ‘* The first day I arrived they brought me a bottle of ink and water—the second, vinegar with a bluesbag steeped in it—the third, cider and log-wood—and all this they were pleased to call claret. But I deuced soon discovered their tricks, and shan’t suffer you to be taken in as I was, damn me if I do.” “Tam sure we are very much obliged to you, Sir,” observed Mr. Pickwick ; ‘‘ and J am only sorry that we cannot have the pleasure of travelling to Paris together.” “And why not?” enquired Mr. Crashem, throwing himself back in his chair, and beckoning Mr. Tupman to take wine with him; “‘ and why not ?” he added, with a nod to Mr. Winkle, which that gentle- man did not know whether to acknowledge through the medium of asmile, or a similar telegraphic despatch. ‘1 thought—that is, I merely fancied,” said Mr. Pickwick, “that your bankers—” “Oh! they be hanged!” cried Mr. Crashem, with admirable em- phasis. <‘‘ You start to-morrow morning, you say ?” Mr. Pickwick replied in the affirmative. “* Well, then—send and take your places to-night, and I will secure mine. Or stay—we might fall upon different coaches; so how shall we remedy it? Oh! I see,” cried Mr. Adolphus Crashem, after a momentary pause—‘ you may as well take all the places, and we can settle afterwards.” ‘¢ With much pleasure,” said Mr. Pickwick; and this matter hav- ng been arranged to the satisfaction of all parties, they betook them- selves to discuss the second course of edibles, and the reinforcement of potables, which the intelligent waiter spread upon the table in hand- some array; and what with the wine, and the entrées de poison, and the hors d’auvres, and the fricandeau, and the volaille, and the douceurs, they managed to make a very tolerable dinner; Mr. Adol- phus Crashem assuring Mr. Winkle that Mr. Pickwick was an excel- lent carver; Mr. Tupman pondering on the charms of the chamber- maid; Mr. Winkle thinking of Arabella; and Mr. Pickwick himself essaying sundry glasses of champagne, for the purpose of ascertaining the discrepancy that existed between it and gooseberry-wine. In the midst of the conviviality and mirth which reigned in the coffee-room—where the Pickwickians and Mr. Adolphus Crashem were left undisturbed by any other visitor, as they chanced to be the only travellers who were that day staying at the hotel—the waiter entered the room, and whispered a few words in Mr. Pickwick's ear. That immortal gentleman, not exactly comprehending the information _ of which the waiter had made it his express business to put him into immediate possession, returned so singular an answer, it would appear, that the garcon merely shrugged his shoulders and did not attempt to continue the conversation. He accordingly left the jovial part to themselves, and repaired to the kitchen, where he narrated an ad- GOMICHOOo q) (c@