Pickwick Abroad; or, The Tour in France — page 190: what you’re looking at

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

PICKWICK ABROAD. 177 passed through the town on his way to Belgium—you know he has just been on a visit to England—and curiosity prompted me to go jown stairs, after I had bade you good night, to see his turn-out, He bought those lovely pie-balds of my friend, Lord Spurrumup— AV ell. well,” interrupted 1] Mr, Tupman, impatiently ; ; “and the misfortune 2” ‘Ah! de. misfortune,”’ echoed Anastasie, sobbing louder than ever. “T was looking at the king’s equipage, ” continued Mr. Crashem, with difficulty suppr essing a laugh, tor Mr. Tupman’s expressive countenance was contra acted mto the most hideous contort tions; “and it was then that the purse—” * What?” said Mr. ‘Tupman, in a very faint tone of voice. “ Evaporated like smoke!’ added Mr. Crashem. * And the money ?” enquired Mr. Tupman, anxiously ** With it,” said Mr. Crashem, by way of reply. Mr. Tupman sank upon a chair, and would have given way to the | wildest expressions of his grief, had not the fair Anastasie hastened to console him. “* Never mind, old fellow!” cried Mr. Crashem;: “‘I have been in many a worse storm than this, and have not tailed to weather them every one. At six o’clock this morning was I up’’—he had not been to bed at all—‘“ and already have I concerted an excellent scheme by which we may realize three or four hundred francs, just to take us on to Dover, where I can get any money I like from the governor of the Castle, who is an intimate friend of mine. I once stay ed with him for three months ; ; and he was so fond of me, I never could get out of his sight.” Such indeed was the fact; for Mr. Crashem’s creditors had cer- tainly consigned him on a specific occasion to the custody and for the time now mentioned. Mr. Tupman’s drooping spirits revived a little at the assurances of his friend, and he requested to be made ac- quainted with the excellent scheme already concocted for the purpose of raising supplies for immediate use. “Tt’s all cut and dried, my cear fellow,” answered Mr. Crashem; ** I have arranged every thing myself. ‘The fact is, there’s an English company of itinerant actors in this town—they are making a little tour in the north of France—and understanding that they couldn’t very well get up a pantomime for want of skilful people, I have en- gaged myself as Harlequin, Mademoiselle as Columbine, and yourself as Pantaloon!” _ * Nonsense!” cried Mr. Tracy Tupman, in mingled astonishment and indignation, “Fact,” said Mr. Crashem, with the most imperturbable coolrvess, “ But I never was a Pantaloon in all my life,” ejaculated the late influential member of the Pickwick Club. _ “Nothing more easy,” rejoined Mr, Crashem. ‘I'll take care to tumble you about. Only follow the impulse of my humour, and you'll make an excellent Pantaloon. I gave my name as Thespis, and yours as Buskin; and very classic titles they are. But I see you think I’m joking, > added Mr. Crashem, after a momentary pause, | during which he surveyed, will ill- suppressed laughter, the ludicrously- ‘miserable countenance and tragi-comic deportment of Mr. ‘Tupman. a ~ 20 ie i : EoOmIiGchbooks (ECO) =) A Py