The Steam-Packet: A Tale of the River and the Ocean — page 198: what you’re looking at

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

THE STEAM PACKET, 149 to cast a desperate glance areund the old dowager’s apartment, in the _almost vain hope of finding some article of vesture fitted for his use, he espied a huge flannel dressing-gown hanging over a chair. Not one instant did he hesitate, but donned the garment, tied the tape-strings _ around his waist, and then, with heart more elate, followed the captain through the window. ‘ All the details connected with this memor able escape—from the first moment when Tom Gibbins gave the alarm, until the last when Mr. Buckram, enveloped in the flannel gown, made his appearance in the open street, with which the back gate of the hotel garden communi- cated—only occupied about two minutes, panes they have taken up many more in the narration. “‘ Where is the captain? Where is his lordship, Tom?” demanded ‘“Gone, sir,” answered Mr. Gibbins briefly. ‘“‘Gone! what gone to fight a duel, eh?” cried Mr. Pifpaf. “Ill have ’em bound over to keep the peace as suré as my name 1s Timothy !”’ ‘¢ The birds is flown, sir,” said Tom, not quite comprehending the meaning of Mr. Pifpaf’s words, but still gleaning enough to satisfy him that the imposture practised by the tailor was not suspected. ‘‘ The birds is fled, sir; and vhere they ’ve removed their nestes to is a blessed sight more than I can say.” ‘“‘T am afraid I am too late after all!” said Mr. Pifpaf, wiping the perspiration from his forehead. ‘De least dat is mended is de soonest said,” ejaculated the commissioner; and he then proceeded to explain to the gendarmes that the two gentlemen whose intention of fighting a duel had called for the interference of the authorities, were no where to be found. CORMEOOOLKS * Mr. Pifpaf, as he hurried into the tailor’s bed-room, followed by the gendarmes and the commissioner. (E©)