The Steam-Packet: A Tale of the River and the Ocean — page 206: what you’re looking at

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

THE STEAM PACKET. 107 valiant manner, ‘‘ But you are right—we must acer to travel on foot for our pleasure: so keep the bundle, by all means.’ In a short time the two travellers entered the hospitable het: if : the Great Duck ; and as Mr. Buckram slipped cautiously in after the ~ captain, there was no time for the landlady to observe that he wore the Pole’s coat—a circumstance which she otherwise could not have. failed to perceive, as it was all frogged and braided. Supper was served up: some very tolerable wine was produced; and the two travellers contrived to make a meal which amply recom- pensed them for the fatigues and alarms of the day. At about eleven o’clock Captain Pentonville ascended to the room where the invalid lay, and inquired after his health. The Pole was snoring most heartily, and by the bed-side were sitting the parson, the notary, and the landlord—all three determined to watch there until all should be over. ‘¢ Sit down, sir,—sit down,” said Nicholas Touchet, the landlord, in a whisper, when Captain Pentonville made his appearance; and he handed his guest a chair. “What! is he snoring?” asked the captain, on whose counte- nance a kind of smile played, as he pointed towards the invalid. *‘ T really think he does snore,” answered the landlord ; “‘ and I have sald so all along, ever since he signed his will.”’ ‘‘No—it is the death-rattle dreadfully protracted,” obpenved the priest. - “Wouldn’t it be better to have medical advice?” asked the captain. ‘‘ Not for the world!” replied the clergyman: ‘‘ it would be useless.” ‘¢ And so you really think that is phe death-rattle, holy father ? ” whispered Touchet. ‘¢ Certainly Ido. I should not like to see him recover again, after | having been confessed so beautifully.” «And yet if he were to recover?” asked the landlord, peaticinig . uneasily towards the priest. “Tt is impossible, | I tell you! Besides, if he were, there would be abuse of confidence—surprise—swindling under false promises. Were he to recover, he would be a ruined man, without a vestige of reputa-_ tion left. The clergy always take, moreover—but neverreturn. This is a rule without exception.” } “It is just the same with innkeepers,” said the landlord. ‘‘ We néver return anything that it is possible to keep. But—listen! have you ever heard many dying pepe have such a loud and long rattle 1 in the throat ?’”’ (E() Eomicbooks