Pickwick Abroad; or, The Tour in France — page 332: what you’re looking at

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

PICKWICK ABROAD. 319 Mr. Lipman did not say anything; but he did a great deal: for he took Mr. Siffkin’s best hat-box to maintain his nght leg with—he placed Mr. Siffkin’s dressing-case on the floor to support his left— and he fetched a pillow from Mr. Siffkin’s bed-room adjcining te ease his back. Mr. Jopling eyed these preparations with infinite delight, and bursting forth imto an immoderate fit of laughter, he swore that “they'd make a night of it.” The punch was brought, so were the cigars ; and Messieurs Lipman and Jopling commenced a desperate attack on both. Mr. Siffkin surveyed their proceedings with a look of the most unfeigned despair He abominated smoking more than any one thing inthe known world, Save and except, perhaps, a boa constrictor, or some such silly triflet and the sight of those two men, who seemed determined upon mono- polising his room and society (with the latter of which they might probably have dispensed, and called for more punch instead ), rendered him absolutely speechless with mingled indignation and disgust. The conversation, however, speedily took a turn which awoke his slumber- ing interests, inasmuch as it especially regarded his germinating aifec- tion for Mrs. Weston, and his deeply-rooted jealousy of his successful rival, Mr. Samuel Pickwick. ‘Excellent punch, this,” said Mr. Lipman, ashe emptied one tum- bler of the rosy liquor, and helped himseif to another. ‘“ Admirable,” assented Mr. Jopling: and then both gentlemen smoked their cigars for some time in silence. “I wonder what’s become of old Pickwick,” said Mr. Joplng, suddenly breaking the temporary silence. ‘*So do I,” was Mr. Lipman’s enlightened answer. ‘* How long is it smce we saw him in Saint Pelagie ?” ‘“‘—ih 2? what’s that 2?” cried Mr. Siffkin, awaking as 1t were from a long lethargy. ‘Is not that the debtor's prison ?” “TI should think so,” responded Mr. Lipman; and the reader will recollect that it was no wonder that he did. ‘“‘ Was Pickwick in a debtor’s prison ?” demanded Mr. Nassau Siff- kin, now no longer grudging the punch and cigars to his singular guests. ‘Was he not—that’s all? eh—Jopling?” cried Mr. Lipman, wink- ing significantly to his friend, to imply that their host had better not be permitted to know that they themselves were the prisoners in Saint Pelagie. “Ah! wasn’t he though?” said Mr. Jopling, with a mysterious shake of the head. “Was he there for much?” enquired Mr. Siffkin, rubbing his hands with delight. : ‘‘Much! I believe you he was,” answered Mr. Lipman. he’s the most extravagant fellow on the face of the earth!” “The greatest swindler I know,” added Mr/Jopling colly sipping his punch. “¢ Naver was such an arrant old knave,’” continued Mr, Lipman. “Gad, isn’t he arum ‘un? ejaculated Mr. Jopling. “ With his gaiters too,” said Mr. Lipman, — “* And his tights,” cried Mv. Jopling. “* Ard his spectacles,” pursued Mr. Lipman. é¢ me T y bh Y> =) Eomichookssco