Pickwick Abroad; or, The Tour in France — page 110: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XTII. AN INTERESTING MEANS OF BPIVERSION IS PROPOSED BY MR. HOOK WALKER.—MR. WELLER S ANECDOTE.-—THE OBSTINACY OF FRENCH HORSES.—THE GENDARME IS AGAIN INTRODUCED. “* An!” said Mr. Tupman, when his visual rays were concentrated, as aforesaid, in the somewhat capacious focus formed by the body of the systematic gentleman; “‘ah! Mr. Walker—how do you do, Sir 2” *“ Never answer with my mouth full,” returned that individual, as he leisurely seanned Mr. Tupman’s person from the crown of his head to the heel of his polished boot, and disposed of another muffin to refresh himself during the survey. ‘‘ Well, Sir—and how do yow do ?” enquired Mr. Hook Walker, when his curiosity and hunger were both appeased. ““ Very well, thank’ee,” said Mr. Tupman. ‘ But what became of you last evening 2?” “When I got out into the open air,” responded Mr. Walker, “I suddenly recollected that 1 had left my purse at home; and, although it is not a part of my system to disappoint a friend, I fancied that I should have time to run-to my lodgings, and fetch it. Pray, how long did you wait for me ?” ‘¢ About twenty minutes,” said Mr. Tupman. Well,” continued Mr. Hook Walker, ‘‘it might have been half an hour before I returned; and then you were gone. I offered to pay my share of the dinner at the bar; but found, to my mortification, that you had settled it for me.” “Qh! as for that,” said Mr. ‘Tupman, producing a small piece of paper from his pocket, “‘ we can easily—” “So I said to myself,” continued Mr. Walker, speaking with an unusual volubility, “‘ this matter may be very pleasantly arranged. Tracy ‘Tupman has given me a dinner; and on another occasion Hook Walker will give him one,’ This, indeed, is a part of my system.” - Mr. Tupman made a slight grimace, returned the equivocal-looking paper to his waistcoat pocket, and muttered something about being “very happy,’ &c., while, in reality, he felt and looked any thing but | satisfied with this portion of his new acquaintance’s systematic beha- viour. His countenance, however, cleared up when Mr. Pickwick entered the room; and an introduction was speedily effected between that gentleman and Mr. Hook Walker. ‘¢Fine morning, Sir,” said Mr. Pickwick, with a benignant smile ; for this was the truly original and ingenious manner in which that extraordinary individual invariably commenced a conversation, with an occasional variation of terms, substituted as circumstances might demand. | . Mr. Walker never compromised the rectitude of his.system by the utterance of an untruth, as he informed Mr, Pickwick; so before he answered the above observation, he took a good long stare at the snow through the windows which looked into the Rue de Rivoli. 1s Eomichbooks (E(0) =