Pickwick Abroad; or, The Tour in France — page 366: what you’re looking at

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

B5Biei CHAPTER XLIII. A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR.—MR. WELLER REGALES HIS MASTER AND THAT GENTLEMAN'S FRIENDS WITH TWO HIGHLY-EDIFYING CHA- RACTERISTIC SKETCHES RELATIVE TO AN ADVERTISEMENT-COL- LECTOR FOR A LONDON PAPER. For several days after his arrival in Paris, Mr. Snodgrass was oc- cupied in visiting the different buildings and exhibitions worthy of notice; and the slight sketch of each which he entered upon his memorandum-book, bears ample testimony to the greatness of his poetic genius. Mr. Pickwick divided his time between Mrs. Weston and his endeavours to console the unhappy lady in the mad-house, on whom he frequently called, and concerning whose husband he made several enquiries. But the information he obtained relative to the unfortunate Melville, was of the most distressmg kind; and the good-natured Mr, Pickwick was obliged to conceal a considerable portion of the truth from the miserable object of his chief solici- tude. One morning when the four friends’ were all seated at breakfast, Mr. Weller made his appearance with a card of very considerable dimensions. Upon this card were printed ina very bold type the following words :—‘‘ Mr, William Terry, m.a.” ‘“Gen’leman ’s a-vaitin’,” observed Mr. Weller. “Sam,” said Mr. Pickwick, ‘“ you may show him in.” And the gentleman was ushered into the room accordingly. He was a tall melancholy-looking, sallow-faced individual, with a small quick eye, and an expression of countenance which left a bad opinion concerning its proprietor in the minds of those who gazed upon it. He was dressed in deep black, and wore a white hat with black crape —probably for the sake of an agreeable contrast, which it certainly formed. Mr. Terry bowed very low to Mr. Pickwick, and then to Mr. Pickwick’s friends; and this bow originated many others in re-- turn; and Mr. Terry hoped that the four gentlemen were very weil; and the four gentlemen hoped Mr. Terry was the same; and then the whole party relapsed simultaneously into their chairs and a profound silence once again. At length the pause was broken by Mr. Terry. ““T am come,” said that gentleman, addressing himself to Mr. Pickwick, ‘to converse with you upon one of the most important of worldly affairs.” “A clergyman, I presume,” said Mr. Pickwick with a smile. ** No, Sir, 1 am not,” returned Mr, Terry, ‘‘ But I prepare that,” he added in a most mysterious voice, ‘“‘ which a clergyman is generally employed to terminate.” “Probably you are a lawyer, Sir?” suggested Mr. Winkle No, Sir—out again,” exclaimed Mr. Terry; ‘‘ although a iawyer is not unfrequently employed in the affairs I manage for the good of my fellow-creatures.” “You had better explain your profession, Sir,” said Mr. Pickwick, 45 ? Eomichbooks (ECO) =