Pickwick Abroad; or, The Tour in France — page 102: what you’re looking at

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

PICKWICK ABROAD. 8&L Mr. Tupman’s aid, in the guise of a short English gentleman of about hity, who was puthing a cigar most courageously as he waiked along the magnificent colonnade. “ Pray, Sir, can you inform me which is the best place to dine at, here?” enquired Mr. Tupman, convinced that the short gentleman was a native of Britain from the circumstance of his having very au- dibly condemned to the lower regions, and in no very equivocal terms, a small boy who had just run against him. “T can, Sir,” replied the short gentleman, eyeing Mr. Tupman from top totoe. ‘A stranger m Paris, I presume, Sir ?”’ ** Quite,” answered Mr. Tupman. ‘¢ Do you wish to do the thing slap up, or merely grub on an eco- nemical system ?” demanded the short gentleman. “Oh!” said Mr. Tupman, hesitating, ‘‘ it’s quite immaterial, I assure you.” ** Decide, Sir,”’ cried the short gentieman, laconically. ‘* Well—I don’t care, then, if I have a good dinner,” returned the Pickwickian. “ That’s also a part of my system,” observed the stranger, with a smile. ‘‘Do you wish for company ?” ‘“*T certainly dislike dining alone,” replied Mr. Tupman. “ My system again,’ cried the short gentleman ; “ so here goes; — and with these words, he took Mr. ‘Tupman’s arm, threw away his cigar, and hastened towards Very’s celebrated restaurant, without uttering another syllable; so that Mr. ‘Tupman began to imagine that silence was a part of his new friend’s system, also. ‘You take soup, oi course?’ said the stranger, when he and Mr. Tupman were comfortably seated at one of the nice little tables in the public room at Very’s. ‘‘ Garcon, soupe a la julienne pour deux /—What wine do you like?” ‘“‘T have no choice, Lassure you. Indeed, I should be better pleased if you would cater for me, as you appear to be so much more conver- sant with French manners and customs than myseli.” ‘* Admirably spoken!” exclaimed the stranger: “‘ quite agrees with my system! But, before we proceed any further, let us understand each other, What is your name?’ Mr. Tupman detailed his prenomen and cognomen forthwith. ‘* And mine is Walker,’ returned the systematic gentleman ;— ‘‘Mr. Hook Walker, at your service.” Mr. Tupman bowed, expressed himself much pleased with havin formed the acquaintance of Mr. Hook Walker, and looked very amiable and satisfied. “ Excellent soup, this,” observed Mr. Walker. ¢ Excellent,” cried Mr. Tupman. ‘“‘ But have you ordered any wine ?” -“T sit corrected,” said Mr. Walker, seriously; and in a mementthe waiter received orders to supply his very best Saint Emilion, and to put a couple of bottles of Champagne inice, The two gentlemen then took wine together, and Mr. Walker enquired if “ fish formed a part of Mr. Tupman’s system of dining?’ ‘To this a reply was given in the affirmative; and turbot, with the necessary concomitant of lobster sauce, was instantaneously commanded. This was followed by a 12 EOMIC LOOKS (E(0) =)