Pickwick Abroad: or, The Tour in France — page 178: what you’re looking at

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

Pickwick Abreoad. L3o man in a melancholy tone of voice, ‘‘ and cost him, I believe, fifty guineas. He gave it to me in return for a very handsome patent philter which I sent him a few years ago.”’ 7 ‘*Yes,”’ said Mr. Winkle, by way of corroborating Mr. Tupman’s testimony, ‘‘it was about the same time that I bought for our excel- lent friend here—’’ indicating Mr. Pickwick—‘‘ a microscope which magnified a flea to the size of a large mouse.”’ ‘* And on the same occasion,” added Mr. Pickwick, turning with a glance of pride from his followers, to the great man who listened in silent admiration to the unquestionable reports of the witnesses, “ I recollect that Snodgrass treated himself to the most complete rhyming dictionary extant.” The three Pickwickians felt that they had now done their duty as upright and honourable members of society, and the reward of their — good actions was gathered in the approving smiles of each-other. » “You say, then, Sir,’ said M. Vidocq, after a pause, *‘ that you value your watch at fifty pounds, English meney 2” Mr. Tupman nodded assent, and Mr. Weller encouraged the whole party present to proceed in the investigation of the matter by assuring them that they might ‘‘ go it, as crutches were cheap.”’ ‘This informa- tion, being in some way connected with the word “cripples,” gave a most pleasing aspect to the face of the affair. 3 ‘“‘ If that be the case then,” continued M. Vidocq, alluding to Mr. Tupman’s answer, and not to Mr. Weller’s observation, ‘‘ you will not probably be averse to give fifteen pounds, sterling, for the recovery of your watch 2” ‘On the contrary,” replied Mr. Tupman eagerly, “‘I shall do so with the greatest pleasure—provided I can also punish the delinquents.” ‘* No—no,”’ said Vidocq with a smile; ‘‘ the watch will be returned on condition that no further notice be taken of the affair.”’ ‘¢ Vonders vill never cease,” cried Mr. Weller, ‘‘as the tailor sai to the gen’leman ven he paid his bill.”’ “¢Sam,”’ exclaimed Mr. Pickwick. ‘ Here you air, Sir,’”’ returned the valet, stepping forward, and pull- ing his front locks by way of salutation. ‘‘ Hold your tongue till you’re spoken to,” said Mr. Pickwick. ““ Wery good, Sir,” rejoined Mr. Weller, relapsing into the back- ground, In the meantime the negotiation, by the advice of the Gendarme, had been effected, and Mr. Tupman’s stomach once more overhung tne valued watch and chain he had lately despaired of ever recovering. ‘You are probably acquainted, then, Sir, with Miss Anastasie d+ Volage,” said Mr. Tupman, when he had counted out the money on the desk of the extraordinary personage in whose presence he stood. ‘She has as many names, my dear Sir,’”’ answered Vidocaq, ‘‘as I have had in my time—and those are not afew. Her father was a field-marshal of France, and her mother a figuranie at the Opera. In process of time Mademoiselle Anastasie became a votary of the buskin also; and in that capacity, at the age of fifteen, she attracted the notice of a certain Count, and threw herself into his chariot and keeping at the same time. Her reign in that sphere lasted but a short time, and whenever she appended to herself a new name she added CORNICLOOKS (CO) nf) k