Pickwick Abroad: or, The Tour in France — page 251: what you’re looking at

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202 Pickwick Abroad. ‘around, he .saw that he was supported by numerous friends—and he felt that he had done every thing to promote the hilarity of the evening, which indeed he had to the best of his ability, having caused the punch to be circulated no less than seven times before supper, and having drank deeply thereof on each occasion. | ** Please, Sir,” remonstrated Mr. Weller, ‘‘ the music can’t be intro- duced not by no means,”’ “Why not, Sam?” enquired Mr. Pickwick, somewhat angrily. ‘Cos, Sir,’ was Mr. Weller’s ingenuous and candid reply, ‘‘the drum’s so precious drunk, and the two fiddles is so wery quarrelsome, that I can’t get ’em to ac-cord in any other vay than in drinkin’ till they can’t see, and in that they seems to be vell qualified to keep time vith each other.” | ‘‘ ’'m afraid, then, gentlemen,” said Mr. Pickwick, “ that we shall be obliged to dispense with the music for this evening.” ‘* Oh! never mind,” interrupted Mr. Scuttle, as he quietly poured some boiling gravy into the hollow of Mr. Chitty’s hand, instead of conveying the same to his own plate: ‘‘I dare say we shall do very well without it.” , “So the boy said, Sir,” illustrated Mr. Weller, ‘‘ ven his master couldn’t find the birch-rod steeped in winegar.—Beg pardon, Sir,” continued Sam, addressing himself to Mr. Pickwick, ‘‘ but is the bubble-and-sqveak good ?” ‘* Excellent, Sam,’’ replied that gentleman. “T’ll trouble you for some, then, Mr. Scuttle,” said Mr. Hook Walker ; “it is a part of my system to taste every thing that is ood.” : =e Know how to com-pose it ?”” demanded Mr. Weller, abruptly, and with a sly wink at Messieurs Peacock and Brandenbergh, whereat those young gentlemen almost went into ecstacies. ““Can’t say I do,” returned Mr. Walker: “it is not a very essential part—”’ ‘“‘Fust get the beef and the greens,” interrupted Mr.Weller, just as Mr. Scuttle consigned the entire supply of the viand solicited by Mr. Walker to his own especial plate, and considerately forwarded that gentleman the empty dish. Thence sprung an immediate remon- strance, as speedy a rectification of the mistake, and a total oblivion of the recipe on the part of Mr. Weller. ‘“‘ Come—come—that’s not fair—non pulcher est,” exclaimed Mr. Septimus Chitty. ‘‘ Let us, therefore, restore good humour by drink- ing a bumper 7otandus—round.”’ | Mr. Pickwick’s head fell upon his hand, and his elbow upon the table: the movement was considered to be expressive of assent, and Mr. Chitty’s proposition was immediately adopted and carried into effect. At this moment the door opened, and M. Dumont, who had promised tolook inin the course of the evening, made his appearance. This was the signal for an increase of mirth and laughter—the glass circulated freely—the Gendarme soon rendered himself agreeable to the whole ‘company, not even excepting Messieurs Peacock and Brandenbergh— the conversation turned upon M. Vidocq and the recovery of Mr. Tup- inan’s watch—and one of his amusing tales terminated the entertain- ment of the evening. Mr, Tupman entered the particularsof Dumont’s COMME IOOKSa OL ay