The Steam-Packet: A Tale of the River and the Ocean — page 224: what you’re looking at

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

| THE STEAM PACKE®, 167 of the hotel ; and how Mr. Pifpaf -was at that moment at Quillacq’s Hotel, and might be sent for to corroborate the statement. : “‘The matter begins to wear a very different aspect from what I ex- pected,” said the Commissary, ‘‘ Let this Mr. Pifpaf be sent for.” While the town-sergeant was gone to Quillacq’s Hotel, to procure the attendance of Mr. Pifpaf, Captain Pentonville, who was quite en- livened by the assurance that he might still look upon the chairman of _ the Luminaries as a friend, proceeded to give an explanation on his side. He stated that the quarrel between himself and his lordship was of that ‘‘ delicate nature’? which required an exchange of pistol- shots; that shots were accordingly exchanged, and no harm done ; that hands were then shaken; that the pistols, which they had carried away with them from the hotel at Gravelines, were thrown away into | _ a ditch ; that all subsequent alarms consisted only in the fear of being pet and punished for fighting a duel, they being wholly ignorant of the laws of the country; that they had not provided themselves _with passports previous to leaving England, as they understood that it was not necessary to go through that ceremony when the intention was merely to visit the French towns upon the coast, and not pene- trate to any distance into the interior of the country; and, lastly, that _ he and his companion Lord Noodleton, of Diddleham Hall, Notown, feeling themselves excessively outraged by the infamous, barbarous, unehristian, and uncivilised conduct pursued towards them, should instantly. communicate the whole facts of the case to their most partt- _ eular and intimate friend, the English Ambassador in Paris. “Sir,” said the Commissary, ‘I first notice that menace with which you aided your observations, to state that I am perfectly indifferent _ to it, as the very suspicious circumstances of the case warranted all the _ steps taken towards you. Iam, however, now perfectly well aware that an awkward misapprehension has occurred ; and the moment your friend Mr, Pifpaf arrives to corroborate your servant's statement, I shall release you.”’ At that moment the chairman of the Lumimaries entered the office, and glanced hastily around to ascertain why he had been sent for, as the town-sergeant had not attempted to make him comprehend the mo- tive. The eyes of the chairman were immediately arrested by features which, he thought, were familiar to him ;—but the garbs and the posi- tion—impossible! Cotton nightcaps and chains—flannel dressing- gowns and blouses,—these could scarcely be associated with ideas of Captain and Lord! Great, therefore, was the surprise of the chair- ‘man when he found that the voices aided addressed him were really those of Pentonville and Noodleton—his two intended sons-in-law— (E(0) Gomicbooks