Pickwick Abroad: or, The Tour in France — page 388: what you’re looking at

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

Pickwick Abroud. I20 for one moment losing his usual presence of mind: “ and it is very natural that you should be so. But we shall not the less continue to travel together and enjoy the blessings of each other’s society—"’ At this moment Mr. Pickwick was interrupted by the entrance of Mr. Samuel Weller and a letter. The latter was placed in Mr. Pick- wick’s hands; and the former disappeared so soon as he had acquitted himself of the little duty he had been requested by a messenger from Mr. Scuttle to perform. ** Why—how is this?—-God bless me!” exclaimed Mr. Pickwick, as his eye glanced over the contents of the epistle. ‘‘ What can this mean ?’.—and he turned the letter several times over in his hands, when he had finished the perusal of it. He then examined the super- scription and the place where he had torn it by the seal; and finished by giving it to Mr. Tupman, who read it aloud for the behoof of Mr. Winkle. And these were the contents. *“* Mr. Scuttle presents his compliments to Mr. Pickwick, and regrets that the informatien he has lately received relative fo Mr. Pickwick, from Mr. Siffkin, will compel him to decline the honour of Mr. Pick- wick’s acquaintance in future. This resolution is also the more per- emptorily to be acted upon, inasmuch as the approaching change in Mrs. Weston’s condition renders a mofe strict circumspection neces- sary in the selection of the future Mrs. Kallaway’s friends.” This is very extraordinary,” said Mr. Tupman, folding up the ietter, and returning it to Mr. Pickwick. , “‘ Very,” assented Mr. Winkle. “* There is some mistake,” observed Mr. Pickwick; ‘* and Siffkin is at the bottom of it. He has been traducing our characters to our most intimate friends, and Kallaway himself has been also playing the traitor. I understand it all now.” “Pm very glad you do,” said Mr. Winkle; ‘‘ for I’m sure I donot.” ‘Pll call upen Scuttle this very moment, and have an immediate explanation,” exclaimed Mr. Pickwick. ‘‘ Wait here till my return.”’ Mr. Pickwick placed his hat upeu his head, his spectacles upon his nose, and his gloves upon his hands, and walked hastily up the Bou- levards to the Rue Taitbout. He found that Mr. Scuttle was at home; and on being introduced to the drawing-room, became aware of the pleasing fact that he stood im the presence of that gentleman himself, Mr. Siffkin, and Mr. Kallaway. Mr. Pickwick bowed politely to the triumvirate ; but the recognition of his civility on their part was cold and distant, ‘‘T have just received a very singular letter from you, Sir,” said Mr, Pickwick, addressing himself to Mr. Scuttle; “and have come to demand an explanation of its contents.” “Very just—very just, Mr. Pickwick,” exclaimed Mr. Scuttle, fidgetting somewhat upon his chair, ‘‘The fact is, that my friend Siffkin here has heard most strange reports, Mr. Pickwick—and— and he communicated them to me last night.. They made me so nervous, 1 can assure you, that when I retired for the night, I put the candle into the bed and stood myself in the grate, and did not detect my error till I tried to snuff myself out.” “Well, I recollect when old Clumley, my father-in-law, took the y 2 JOO cS (C(O) GOMGC