Pickwick Abroad; or, The Tour in France — page 73: what you’re looking at

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

69 PICKWICK ABROAD. “It must be something very slap up,” exclaimed Mr. Adolphus Crashem, in a menacing tone of voice, as the whole party followed M. Cailliez up a wide and handsome staircase to a suite of apartments looking upon the Gardens of the Tuileries, and not higher than the fourth floor above the entresol. Mr. Crashem’s injunction had ap- peared to produce some effect; for when the extreme height of the said apartments from the ground was objected to by Mr. Pickwick, the first floor was immediately*pronounced to be vacant. “Tam only afraid, gentlemen, obiected M. Cailliez, “that you will find it rather dear.” «“ Nonsense!” cried Mr. Crashem, with a most noble disdain of ex- pense ; ‘‘name your own price.” ‘‘ Only two thousand francs a munth,” answered M. Cailliez,with an engaging smile. ““ Highty pounds !’” ejaculated Mr. Crashem, rattling an immense quantity of five-franc pieces in the pocket of his mysterious rough blue coat. ‘* Well—that’s not very dear, either.” ‘It is too dear for me,’ cried Mr. Pickwick, sternly, his ee Ess contracting into wrinkles and displaying to considerable advantage the large spots of mud that soiled his skin. ‘‘ Let us take the fourth floor, and settle ourselves at once.” A bargain was thereupon immediately struck, and the travellers were speedily installed in their new lodgings. It being now necessary to elect a general caterer and a general per- sident, for the express behoof of the little community, Mr. Adolphus Crashem undertook the laborious functions of the former office. and Mr. Pickwick was of course nominated to administer those of the latter. These matters having been arranged to the sausfaction of all whom they concerned, certain necessary ablutions and changes of raiment were immediately voted as the next ceremonies to be per- formed; and then a copious dinner, under the inspection of Mr. Crashem, was served up. ‘his repast was prolonged till about ten o’ clock, at which hour the travellers retired, each to his respective couch, with a mutual understanding that they were to rise early and commence their rambles in the great metropolis of France. At about nine o’clock on the following morning, Mr. Weller, armed with certain mystic tin-pots, containing warm water, knocked at the respective doors of Messieurs Tupman and Winkle, de pelalaee one of the said mystic pots at each, and then proceeded to “cali the Hm- peror, as he very respecttuily expressed himself to one of the waiters of the hotel. “What! is it already time to get up?” enquired Mr. Pickwick, opening one eye, and still sleeping with the other. Mr. Weller replied in the affirmative, and Mr. Pickwick succeeded in opening his second optic. «« Wery ’ansome cab at the door, Sir,” observed Mr. Weller, as he arranged his master’s shaving apparatus : “and a nice litile tiger I see in it, too,’’ added the domestic “God bless me!” esicinned Mr. Pickwick: “ quite a tame one, I hope, though, Sam—is it not” GEomiicbooks:.col