Pickwick Abroad; or, The Tour in France — page 55: what you’re looking at

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

4-2 PICKWICK ABROAD. 9? *¢ Just a trifle, the thing.” “Twobob and a bender—will that suit you ?” enguired Mr, Crashem, in a playful strain of metaphor, or rather synonyme. “Eh ?” exclaimed Mr. Winkle, who did not wish to appear ignorant of terms evidently used by peop sle in the higher waiks of life: ‘* how much did you say ?” “ Half-a-crown, if you like,’ ame commenced accor dingly. ‘Are you strong at écarté?” enquired Mr. Crashem, pocketing the third half-crown, and turning up his seventh king with a coolness and presence of mind that did him immense credit, w hen we take into con- sideration the risk he was running. “Not very,” returned Mr. Winkle, glancing hastily over a hand composed of three eights, one nine, and one ten, of which none was a trump. “Good players always say that,’ observed Mr. Crashem, placidly arranging upon his knees five picture cards of high calibre. ‘But I'm airaid youain’t lucky to-day? By the bye—did you ever hear of the match I played at chess with the ambassador from the king of the Uninhabited Islands? That sas a match, or my name isn’t Crashem! I gave him a queen, the two castles, and a bishop—and beat him in fifteen minutes by Lord Bugden’s chronometer-watch. There’s the king again, I declare!” added Mr. Crashem, while M. Dumont shrug ooed up his shoulders, smiled, but said nething. When the love-sick maiden is recliningona flowegy bank, by the side ofa meandering stream, pondering on her passion, and enjoying the stilly calmness of the ev ening, a clap of thunder may suddenly arouse her from her delightful reverie. When the man about town is lux- uriating in the coffee-iccm of an hotel, on a bottle of claret and a broiled fowl, the unhallowed touch of the sheriff’s officer’s hand upon his shoulder not untfrequently disturbs his enjoyment. So it was on the present occasion: for—to pursue the approved method adopted by novelists to introduce a circumstance of such import—at the very mo- ment, when Mr. Winkle was quietly shuffling the cards, having handed over to Mr. Crashem another English half-crown, the voice of Mr. Pickwick fell upon his ears. ‘“ What!” exclaimed that gentleman, awaking from his slumbers, like a giant refreshed with wine—“ are you gambling again, Mr. Winkle, and losing the money which belongs as much to your wife and children as to yourself?” “We are not playing for much, my dear friend,’ observed Mr, Winkle, in a trembling voice. “ And, pray, Sir—what are you playing for?’ enquired Mr, Pick- wick, in a tone of extreme irascibility. ‘‘ Only two bob and a bender!” replied Mr. Winkle, animated b Jaudable and exemplary desire to display any acquisition of gaps he might obtain in his continental tour. “Do you, want to insult me, Sir?” cried the mdignant Mr. Pick- wick; “for is it your wish to alienate from your inter rests for ever an old and tried friend 2” returned Mr. Winkle, ‘‘ only for the amusement of 99 responded Mr. Crashem; and the Eomiecbooks.co 3