Pickwick Abroad; or, The Tour in France — page 352: what you’re looking at

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

PICKWICK ABROAD. 339 Mr. Lawson, Mrs. Lawson, Mr. Lane, the waiters, the chamber- maids, ‘the boots,” the porters, andthe e¢ cetera,all made a low bow to Mr. Snodgrass, when they heard him saluted by the title of Count; and that gentleman was too much pleased with the civility he ex- perienced at the moment, to convince any one present of the mistake under which they all laboured as to his rank. When the postilion had been settled with, the three travellers were shown up a magnificent staircase into a suze of apartments on the first floor, that looked into a little garden on one side of which were the Rivoli Baths; and all the saucepans in the kitchen were put into immediate requisition to providea supper worthy of the Count Boloski and his friends. This circumstance threw every thing into additional activity and bustle throughout the hotel, especiaily as Lady Snib, who occupied the ground floor, was giving one of those grand dinners, for which she, however, eventually forgot to pay. ** Who are the fashionable people now in Paris, waiter ?”” demanded Count Boloski, of the attendant that mimistered when supper was served up. ‘*T can’t exactly say, myself, Sir,” returned the man, who was an Englishman; ‘‘ but there is at this moment a party of the clerks from Bennis’s Library in the Rue Neuve Saint Augustin, dining in a private room close by, to celebrate the birth-day of one of them; and if you please, Sir, I will request the principal man about the establishment to step in. He is the clerk of the Circulating-Library Departmen:, and can give you every information.” This offer was immediately agreed to; and inafew minutes (the waiter having disappeared during that time) a short, stout, grinning, good-natured-looking man was ushered into the room. “Mr. Matthew Tunks, Sir,” said the waiter; whereupon the indivi- dual whoseappeliations were thus proclaimed, bowed very obsequiously, and grinned more than ever. ‘“* Well, Mr. Tunks,” cried the Count, ‘‘ who have you got in Paris how ? Any one worth knowing, eh 2” “J will show youin a moment, Sir,’ said Mr. Matthew Tunks; and after fumbling in his pocket, he drew forth a small newspaper, which he handed to the Count. ‘* This is the Paris Advertiser, Sir,’ continued Mr. Tunks, poiting to the title of the journal; ‘‘ and there is the list of ‘ Fashionable Arrivals,’ Sir,” he added, mdicating one of the columns. “Why, I know that two or three slap-up people, whose names are not down here. arrived last week from Boulogne,’ exclaimed the Count. ‘°* What’s the reason of such an omission ?” “Oh! Sir,” elucidated Mr. Matthew Tunks, with a grin more ex- tensive than its predecessors, “they subscribe to Galiynani. We only mention the names of 02 subscribers.” ** And which is the best establishment ?” enquired the Count. ) ““Our’s, decidedly,”’ replied Mr. Tunks, handing cards round the table. ‘‘ We have forty thousand volumes in the Circulating-Library alone, and we take four hundred newspapers every day. Subscribers are moreover respectfully informed that the sooner books are returned | when read, the greater accommodation it will be to themselves in ob- | Eomichbooks (EO) =