Pickwick Abroad: or, The Tour in France — page 69: what you’re looking at

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

38 Pickwiek Abroad. did not venture another observation. Mr. Winkle was determined to have his revenge; and Mr. Crashem, in the most generous and hand- some manner, assured him that he wished he might get it. “‘ How queerly you take the dice up,” observed Mr. Winkle to Mr. Crashem, who was preparing to “have another shy,” as he beautifully expressed himself in the figurative language of the poets, ‘‘ What makes you squeeze your fingers so close together ?”’ ‘‘That’s the genteel way, that is,” answered Mr, Crashem, glancing slyly at Mr. Pickwick, and recalling to his mind the word that denotes the colour of the leaves and the grass in the middle of Spring. ‘Seven —eight—eight to seven—eight it is—that makes another five !’—and Mr. Winkle immediately consigned to Mr. Crashem’s keeping a five- pound Bank of England note, which that gentleman received with a certain twinkling of the eye that denoted any thing but infelicity. ‘‘T must try and get up my play a little,” cried Mr. Winkle with a very long face. “Tis almost an age since I handled the dice-box. “J never saw you do so before,” observed Mr. Pickwick; ‘“‘ and I hope that—” Posterity will for ever remain ignorant of the intended conclusion of Mr. Pickwick’s speech; for at the very critical moment when he left off, the waiter entered with the breakfast things, and thus put an end to the play as well as to Mr. Adolphus Crashem’s certainty of gain—for such a word as chance in the matter would be totally misplaced—to the intense delight of Mr. Pickwick, and the especial sorrow of Miss Grinwell’s betrothed, who seemed particularly desirous of adding smother fifty pounds to the ten five-pound notes he had already ac- quired. Mr. yupman speedily made his appearance, and the adven- tures of Mr. Weller became the immediate topic of conversation. Gietjecee=e CHAPTER V. THE TRAVELLERS COMMENCE TAEIR FRENCH TOUR.—THE INTERIOR OF A DILIGENCE.—A TABLB D'HOTE, AT WHICH AN EXTRAORDINARY DEGREE OF PIETY [8 MANIFESTED BY MR. PICKWICK.—THE GENDARME. THE astonishment of the waiter was not a little excited; when Mr. Adolphus Crashem addressed him as follows, so soon as breakfast had been carefully dispatched. ** Waiter—bring me my bill—do you hear, waiter ?”’ *’ Beg pardon, Sir,” responded the garcon, when he had found time to soothe his feelings, calm his mind, and assure himself that his ears did not deceive him, and that he was not labouring under a delusion ; “beg pardon, Sir, but it has already been delivered about fourteen times.” ‘ Of course—of course-weekly bills!’ cried Mr. Crashem, cast- ing an uneasy glance at Mr. Pickwick; “and while I think of it, I had better step into the office and settle this little account with the landlord himself.” ‘* As you please, Sir,” observed the waiter, slightly shrugging his shoulders; and he proceeded to rub the table with a violence that DGe q) COL (c@