Pickwick Abroad; or, The Tour in France — page 99: what you’re looking at

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R65 PICKWICK ABROAD. ‘“‘'Thank’ee,” returned Mr. Winkle; and he blew a cloud accordingly. ‘ You don’t lush, Sir,” said Mr. Jopling to Mr. Pickwick. ‘“ Pass the bingo, Lipman, and let the gentleman make himself a stinger ;”— and Mr. Pickwick, acting upon a faint idea, or a natural impulse ori- ginated by Mr. Jopling’s invitation, mixed himself a glass of spirits and water, and proceeded to drink it—an example that was imme- diately followed by Mr. Boozie, who thereby so much elicited the admiration of Mr. Lipman, that he was forthwith pronounced to be a ‘‘ regular brick, and no mistake.” All this was very friendly and very gratifying; and the more the liquor was poured out, the more lively became the conversation. A variety of amusing anecdotes was told ior the benefit of those present ; and as they all lacked veracity, so they were replete with interest and marvel. ‘““There’s an archbishop in here,” observed Mr. Jopling, when Mr, Adolphus Crashem had just brought to a conclusion a long tale rela- tive to his friend Sir Patrick Pocock. ‘“ Indeed !” exclaimed Mr. Pickwick. ‘‘ A Roman Catholic, I should imagine ?” : “Oh! yes,” returned Mr. Jopling; “and a devilish good fellow he appears to be. Got lots of tin, I understand.” ‘‘Ah! the proprietor of a mine, no doubt,” said Mr. Pickwick. ‘Those sources of wealth in Roman Catholic countries generally fall into the hands of the clergy.” It is extremely distressing to be compelled to state, that at this re- mark, Mr. Jopling burst out into a clamorous horse-laugh, in which he was most cordially joined by Mr. Lipman. ‘The infectious mirth spread like wild-fireto Mr. Tims and Mr. Crashem ; and then Mr. Pick- wick, Mr. Boozie, and Mr. Winkle deemed 1t necessary to join in the hila- rity, although they were entirely at a loss to divine its cause. Thus is it that great men are frequently led by the force of example to give thew assent and countenance to that which they do not at the moment understand, and the mystery of which they never think of penetrating; and to this circumstance may be attributed the passing of a variety of extraordinary and extravagant measures in the Houses where the senate of England is wont to assemble. ‘* Well, after all,” exclaimed Mr. Winkle, when the mirth had sub- sided into little more than a distant tittering; “ after all, this is not such a bad place, though.” 3 ‘“f should think not,” cried Mr, Jopling with great emphasis on the pronoun. ‘“ There’s a billiard-room,—a hazard-table,—a rozge- et-now table,—roulette,—in fine, every kind of lark that a man can wish for, here.”’ Mr. Jopling’s encomiums upon the New Prison were interrupted by the entrance of two small boys, in blue jackets and clean white aprons, who speedily cleared the table of the glasses, bottles, cigars, &e., and thereupon arranged a scanty white cloth, and divers plates, knives, and forks, &c., instead. They then disappeared, and in a few minutes re- turned with a variety of dishes, which they quietly spread upon ihe table, to the infinite delight of Mr. Crashem and his company. “"rurn out the confounded cat!’ exclaimed Mr. Jopling, as that do- mestic appurtenance to the Café entered the room. But Mr. Lipman 9 Eomicbooks.com