Pickwick Abroad: or, The Tour in France — page 76: what you’re looking at

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

Packnick Abroad. 45 “Talking of the Deccan prize-money,” observed Mr. Crashem to his friends, while his countenance was veiled in blushes, as the modern novelist says; “‘my father made his fortune by that business. Odd— wasn’t it?” ‘“‘T suppose he was lucky enough to get paid,” said Mr. Pickwick, eyeing his new friend somewhat suspiciously. “Oh! no—that would have spoilt all!” cried Mr. Crashem, ern- phatically. Spoilt all—how?” enquired Mr. Winkle, ever ready to gather instruction from those who knew more than himself. ‘“‘If it had been paid, there would have been an end of it,” ex- plained Mr. Crashem; ‘“‘ but the expectation, my dear fellow— the expectation was the thing! My father raised all his share with the money-lenders seven times over; and his most fervent prayer has ever been that the affair may never be settled. The delay is a good ten thousand a-year to him, thank God.” Mr. Winkle was about to express his astonishment at this little anec- dote, and Mr. Pickwick began to fancy that the Crashem family was not the most immaculate nor particular in the world, when the con- ducteur finished his cup of coffee, and rose from his chair with the satisfaction of a man who had eatena good dinner. This was a signal for the passengers to make an end of their repast; accordingly, Mr. Pickwick called for the account, and paid for himself, his friends, and domestic, and Mr. Crashem, that latter gentleman, with a view to pro- mote the adoption of regular and proper arrangements, and to avoid confusion, having wisely suggested that there should be only one’ cashier, and having elected Mr. Pickwick by his single suffrage to fill that important and honourable post. And m laying these facts before our readers, it is but due to the memory of Mr. Pickwick, to declare that he acquitted himself in his new office to the entire satisfaction of him through whose interest he had obtained it. The passengers resumed their seats in the diligence, and the vehicle moved onward at a more rapid rate than when it commenced its jour- ney. The fact is, that the nearer the traveller approaches to Paris, the better he finds the relays of horses and the stables of the post-masters. But as Mr. Pickwick did not make this reflection at the particular time to which we are alluding, we shall hasten to pursue the thread of narrative, and detail the circumstances of it in their proper order. ) The dinner, or the wine, had apparently unlocked the tongue of the French gentleman who had hitherto remained silent. A casual obser- vation which he made to Mr. Pickwick in very good English, enabled that immortal personage to discover that M. Dumont was neither an ill-mformed nor an ill-mannered man; and as the conversation gra- dually assumed a more determined appearance of lasting some time, Mr. Pickwick and his companions were amused and instructed by the various anecdotes and tales which the before silent gentleman told in an easy but impressive manner. The topic of discourse to which he recurred more frequently than to any other, was the organisation and functions of the French Gendarmerie or Police; and on this subject he appeared quite at home. “You may marvel,” said M. Dumont, at the conclusion of an anec- CORnnICLOOKS (CO)