Pickwick Abroad; or, The Tour in France — page 98: what you’re looking at

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

PICKWICK ABROAD, 0d ‘So do I,” echoed Mr. Jopling; “don't I, a ae ae when I can 2?” “That you do, old imme ie said the individual thus appealed to. © But your time will be out in a few months now.’ ‘“‘ How is that?” enquired Mr. Pickwick. “I suppose, Sir, your ‘ereditors have come to an arrangement at las st, then 2” ‘No, Sir, not they,” replied Mr. Jopling, with awink at Mr. Lip- \man. “ But the law of April, 1d 32 has for them, though.” ‘6 Ah!” said Mr. Pickwick considera biy en lighte ned, ‘Certainly,’ continued the young gentleman in the silk dressing- gown. ‘ My debt is under five hundred francs—201. you know that is—and two years’ } mmprisonment emancipates a foreicner from all debts under that sum “Then, lam to u \derstand,” observed Mr. Pickwick, mildly, “‘ that a certain term of incarceration in this country annuls iiabilities to a ceriain amount.” “* Exactly what it is,” responded Mr. Lipman. “No foreigner can remain in prison more enatts en years —and no frenclman more than | five, even if he owes millions. Capital, ain’t it?” _ “Tt is, indeed,” said Mr. Pickwick; ‘‘and very humane laws they “appear to be.” ** Decidedly,” exclaimed Mr. Lipman. “ Why, what do you think?” *“* 1 really don’t know,” replied Mr. Pickwick. “But you will when I tell you, though,” continued Mr, Lipman, knocking the ashes out of his pipe, and filling the wooden bowl! with sgrong Belgian tobacco. ‘* When Cuvyard, the celebrated Commissary to the Victualling Department of the War-Office, was IAPEISODER here for several millions of francs, he had one entire wing ofthe building to himself. Whenever new debtors came in, and w ore chummed in the rooms he had, he | ae riably bought them out, and paid their debts tor them, in order tot Keep his apartments to himself. Those were fine times, ormynameisn’t Lipman. Ouvrard had balls, parties, sezrces — all kinds of things here, every night; and the first people in Paris visited him in this identical prison.* Wasn't that a go for yon?” Mr. Pickwick of course replied that it was, and assented in an equally polite manner to Mr. Jopling’s observa ation that it was a “ devil of arig.” Mr. Tims pronounced it as his opinion that it must have been a ‘* prime spree,” and Mr. Adolphus Crashem declared it was ‘‘a monstrous rum lark.” ‘The four gentlemen then reciprocally agreed that Ouvrard was “a trump;” and Mr. Lipman appealed to. Mr. Pickwick, and asked him if he didn’t think the Frenchman was a “ re- | sular bean?” An answer in the affirmative was immediately given; | ji the whole party, having got upon so good and agreeable an under- LL "| tanding with each other, found Mr. Crashem’s room very snug and comfortable. | “% Won’t you blow a cloud, old fellow?” enquired Mr. Adoiphus Crashem, after a short pause, addressing himself to Mr. Winkle. |* Come, do as we do;” and he handed a paper of cigars to that gentle- an, who had very naturally east his eyes towards the window, and ‘as preparing to descant upon the state of the atmosphere, when Mr. rashem’s s action explained the meaning of his wor ds. - * Facts. | COMMICIOOLS (E(@)