The Steam-Packet: A Tale of the River and the Ocean — page 143: what you’re looking at

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

102 THE STEAM PACKET, dead wall near the church—‘‘ This town to let.” | Nevertheless, several very wealthy and aristocratic families reside at Saint Omers ; but their carriages, with the arms blazoned all over the panels, and the antiquated liveries of the servants attending them, rather recall to the mind of the beholder the equipages which were used abouta hundred years ago, and of which there are many curious pictorial representa- tions, than induce him to believe that they are the accessories -. modern comfort and fashion. The Luminaries drove to the Hotel du Canon d’Or, to which Pam had been recommended by the landlord of the Hotel d’Angleterre at Mount Cassel; and, as is usual in French inns, they found that an excellent dinner could be served up to them in about half an hour after their arrival. No sooner was it hinted abroad that the Earl of ~ Noodleton, of Diddleham Hall, Notown, had just alighted at the ‘Canon d’Or Hotel, than all the English ‘residents in Sait Omers flocked thither to obtaina sight of his lordship; and as it was reported that he journeyed zncognito, with a party of friends belonging to one of the most learned Societies in the world, the curiosity to behold hini- and his companions became the greater. But Mr. Gibbins stationed himself in the anteroom, leading to the dining-saloon, aoe okeeenney denied farther ingress to all comers. ‘* Pray present my card to his lordship,” said a little, stout, ibe? English gentleman, of about fifty, ‘“‘and acquaint his lordship that I once acted as Vice at a dinner at which his noble father presided, and which was pan to celebrate the Fesipnation of the er Plaster Ministry.” “‘I’d rayther not encumber myself vith the dispatch, although it? Sa wery pretty card, nicely printed, and all that,’’ said Mr, aire coolly folding his arms in the little gentleman’s face. ‘‘ Here, my good fellow,” whispered another subject of the British | sovereign, and who seemed to be at variance with his washerwoman, if the colour of his shirt could be taken as a criterion, ‘‘just present this letter to his lordship—only a little petition—my brother’s in quod here for debt, you see—and I ’ll divide with you anything he chooses to giveme. You can manage it—there’s a good fellow—I know!” “Indeed, I’m wery much afeard his lardship is too busy with the eatables an’ drinkables at this here partickler moment, to.bother his right honourable head about them there matters o’ your’n,”’ said Mr. Gibbins ; and he manfully retained his post in the doorway in spite of the petitioner’s pushing and hustling. ‘‘ My good young man,” said a prim, sleek, and alpepabiae English gentleman, attired in a deep suit of black, “ have the kindness to open l Eomicbooks (E{0) m