Pickwick Abroad; or, The Tour in France — page 103: what you’re looking at

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

90 PICKWICK ABROAD. variety of dishes, of which Mr. Tupman did not even know the names, but to which he nevertheless rendered ample justice; while Mr. Hook Walker drank glass after glass with such rapidity that Mr. Tupman began to wonder at certain component parts of the system adopted by his new acquaintance. At length, having waded through at least ten different courses, the dessert was placed upon the table, and Mr. Walker, with systematic precision, cut two enormous slices out of a very fine pime-apple; one of which he handed to Mr, ‘Tupman, and the other he judiciously kept for himself. The iced Champagne was then produced, and Mr. Wal- ker condescended to chatter a little more than he had hitherto done, at the same time endeavouring to convince Mr. Tupman that all his actions, Important or trivial, were regulated on a certain system from which the treasures of the universe could never induce him to depart. Mr. Tupman was highly delighted with the philosophical reasoning of Mr. Walker, and sighed when he recollected how much Mr. Pickwick would have been pleased with the society of so singular an individual, had he been present. The time glided swiftly away, and at a quarter past nine Mr. ‘Tup- man informed his companion that he had an appointment, and must bid him farewell for the present. ‘Never miss your appointments, my dear Sir,” exclaimed Mr. Wal- ker, with his usual solemnity. ‘‘ Regularity and punctuality are the most essential basis of my system.—Have the kindness to order the bill—I will return in one moment—and we will settle our score,” Mr. Walker then lounged idly out of the room, and Mr. Tupman felicitated himself on not only having passed a very agreeable even- ing, but on having formed an acquaintance that might probably turn out to be of material advantage to him during his sojourn in Paris. Five minutes elapsed while he made these exhilarating reflections—an- other five passed away as he discussed the remainder of his Cham- pagne—and at length the half-hour was struck by the clock in the public room where he was seated. “Strange !’’ said Mr. Tupman to himself, ‘*I hope no accident has befailen him. Suppose I give him another five minutes; the Mar- chioness’s house is close by—and one never ought to be too punctual.” But the supplementary five minutes passed away, and still Mr. Hook Walker returned not: Mr. Tupman began to be seriously alarmed for his friend’s safety; but as he could wait for him no longer, he called for the bill, which amounted to a hundred and twenty-seven francs— or a little more than five pounds sterling—paid it with a slight gri- mace, and hurried away to the residence of Madame de Volage in the Rue Neuve des Petits Champs, marvellmg that Mr. Walker’s system should contain so grievous a fault as that of making his associates wait for his return in a manner ai once mysterious and alarming. After a great deal of trouble, Mr. Tupmani discovered the abode he so anxiously sought; and resuming his jaunty air of the morning, he mounted lightly up the six flights, and pulled the bell with the vio- lence of a man whose inward conviction is that he will be received with affectionate welcome. The door was opened by a black servant in a livery which looked very well by candle-light; and Mr. ‘Tupman was ushered into the presence of his hostess. Madame la Marquise Eomichooks (E(0) =)