Pickwick Abroad: or, The Tour in France — page 224: what you’re looking at

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

Pickwick Abroad. | 177 passed through the town on his way to Belgium—you know he has just been on a visit to England—and curiosity prompted me to go down stairs, after 1 had bade you good night, to see his turn-out. He bought those lovely pie-balds of my friend, Lord Spurrumup— “Well, well,” interrupted Mr. Tupman, impatiently; ‘‘and the misfortune 2” *¢ Ah! de misfortune,’’ echoed Anastasie, sobbing louder than ever. “I was looking at the king’s equipage,”’ continued Mr. Crashem, with difficulty suppressing a laugh, for Mr. Tupman’s expressive countenance was contracted into the most hideous contortions; ‘‘ and it was then that the purse—”’ “What?” said Mr. Tupman, in a very faint tone of voice. ‘¢ Evaporated like smoke!” added Mr. Crashem. * And the money 2” enquired Mr. Tupman, anxiously “< With it,” said Mr. Crashem, by way of reply. Mr. Tupman sank upon a chair, and would have given way to the wildest expressions of his grief, had not the fair Anastasie hastened to console him. “Never mind, old fellow!” cried Mr. Crashem; ‘“‘I have been in many a worse storm than this, and have not failed to weather them every one. At six o’clock this morning was I up’’—he had not been to bed at all—‘‘ and already have I concerted an excellent scheme by which we may realize three or four hundred francs, just to take us on to Dover, where I can get any money | like from the governor of the Castle, who is an intimate friend of mine. I once stayed with him for three months; and he was so fond of me, I never could get out of his sight.” Such imdeed was the fact; for Mr. Crashem’s creditors had cer- tainly consigned him on a specific occasion to the custody and for the time now mentioned. Mr. Tupman’s drooping spirits revived a little at the assurances of his friend, and he requested to be made ac- quainited with the excellent scheme already concocted for the purpose of raising supplies for immediate use. “It’s all cut and dried, my dear fellow,’’ answered Mr. Crashem; ** | have arranged every thing myself. The fact is, there’san English company of itmerant actors in this town—they are making a little tour in the north of France—and understanding that they couldn’t very well get up a pantomime for want of skilful people, I have en- gaged myself as Harlequin, Mademoiselle as Columbine, and yourself as Pantaloon!” ‘“‘ Nonsense!” cried Mr. Tracy Tupman, in mingled astonishment and indignation. “ Fact,” said Mr. Crashem, with the most imperturbable coolness. ‘* But I never was a Pantaloon in all my life,” ejaculated the late infiuential member of the Pickwick Club. ‘“‘ Nothing more easy,” rejoined Mr, Crashem. ‘I'll take care to tumble you about. Only follow the impulse of my humour, and you'll make an excellent Pantaloon. I gave my name as Thespis, and yours as Buskin; and very classic titles they are. But I see you think I’m joking,” added Mr. Crashem, after a momentary pause, during which he surveyed, will ill-suppressed laughter, the ludicrously- miserable countenance and tragi-comic deportment of Mr. Tupman. EOMIIGIOOKS (SO) im