Pickwick Abroad; or, The Tour in France — page 81: what you’re looking at

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C8 PICKWICK ABROAD. Mr. Pickwick was endeavouring to explain the nature of the insult he had received, just at the moment when Mr, Weller made his ap- pearance in his breeches and striped waistcoat; and a vague notion of some received wrong was thus conveyed to the see of that faithful domestic, to whom it t did not for one moment occur that any-body but Frenchmen could have been the authors of the offence. Without listening to the merits or particulars of the case, Mr. Weller immedi- ately communicated a violent tmpetus, in the shape of a hard blow, to the body of M. Cailliez; and while that gentleman was in the act of falling over a few of his dependants, Mr. Crashem violently rushed forward, and followed up the advantage already gained by Mr. Weller, by kicking Madame Meurice’s deputy playfully down the first flight of stairs, while Mr. Tims discharged at the heads of the astonished waiters all the boots and shoes that were arranged at the several bed- room doors in the passage. The premises were thus immediately cleared of the enemy; and after a few comments upon the strange oc- currences of the evening, Mr. Pickwick, Mr. Crashem, Mr. Tims, and Mr. Weller retired each once more to his respective apartment, The meeting at the breakfast-table on the following morming was gloomy and uncomfortable. Mr. Tupman and Mr. Winkle secretly reproached themselves for having left their venerated leader in the hour of danger, despite of the stimulating but unprephetic lines in- cited by Mr. Snodgrass, and laid before the reader in a former chapter : Mr. Boozie felt annoyed at Mr. Pickwick’s manner and abruptness on the occasion of the disturbance; Mr. rashen affected sympathy and commiseration; Mr. dims laughed i in the sleeve of his blue coat with brass buttons—and Mr. Pickwick himself was unusually thoughtful and low-spirited. Con} ecture, on all sides, in vain endeavoured to afiix the na thorship of ‘the insult on the devoted head of some auda- cious culprit; but not a breath of suspicion sullied the fair fame of Messieurs Tims and Crashem. ‘“‘] wish I had been there when the fighting began,” exclaimed Mr. Winkle, assuming a menacing air, and clenching his fist with the de- termined countenance ofa a gladiator. ‘* Didn’t I give it to that fellow Cailliez 2” enquired Mr. Crashem, blandly appealing to Mr. Tims, who nodded his head in a peculiar manner expressive of assent. ““Pity I missed it!” observed Mr. Tupman; ‘‘for I should have liked to have pitched into some of those French dogs,” he added, with a courageous glance at Mr. Boozie. ““Boozie,” said Mr. Pickwick, brightening up, when those loyal sen- timents met his ear; “I was somewhat harsh last night—but you should make allowances for the excruciating agony | endured in my great toe.” Here Messieurs Crashem and ‘Tims with diffieu! lty sup- pressed a laugh.—‘‘ But, there’s my hand, Boozie,” continued the noble-minded and generous Mr, Pickwick. Mr. Boozie srasped the out-stretched hand that «ras so liberally offered, and a pathetic little piece of tragedy ensued. Mr. ‘Tupman and Mr. Winkle thought it right to shed tears ; Mr. Crashem pinched Mr. Tims on the thigh—and “Mr. Tims returned the compliment on Mr. Crashem’s ribs; ‘and all were looking very doleful and very much affected, when the ‘door was thrown open, and M. Calliez, attended by his two clerks, entered the room. wees ey comicbooks.com " a