The Steam-Packet: A Tale of the River and the Ocean — page 281: what you’re looking at

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

216 THE STEAM PACKET. would soon come to blows: but Mr. Bambross re-assured him, by de- elaring that they were only conversing in the most amicable way in the world, and were never in a better humour. At another table two demure-looking French gentlemen, each with the red riband of the Legion of Honour, were playing chess, and drinking pedzets verres—or small glasses of brandy. At the third and fourth tables gentlemen were amusing themselves with draughts—which, indeed, seem to be preferred in France to the more noble and intellectual game of chess. Here asolitary stranger was reading the Constitutionnel newspaper ;— there a lounger was ogling the pretty girl who served at the bar. At the farther end of the long room was a billiard-table, at which some English gentlemen, resident in Calais, were playing; and around stood several others of their fellow-countrymen, making bets, and passing their strictures upon the game. ‘¢ Excellent stroke!” exclaimed one. *‘ The cannon was the correct play,”’ said a second. ' “ No—the pocket,” observed a third. ‘* 'There—now he has him!” cried a fourth ; ‘‘ cannon, and in off the red.” Devil a bit!” ejaculated a fifth: ‘‘I’ll bet three francs to one that he don’t do it.” ad “Done !'” said the preceding speaker—and done it was; but Mr. Pifpaf did not see the money handed over—as indeed it very seldom was—LEnglish gentlemen in Calais appearing to derive just as much exciting pleasure from making bets which they never paid, as confirmed gamblers are supposed to enjoy in receiving their winnings. At length the game was over; and one of the players exclaimed, ‘¢ Any one take a hand now ?” Mr. Bambross looked at Mr. Pifpaf, and said, “‘ Will you play with Mr. Slummers—the winner ?” “IT can’t say that I exactly understand the game,” replied the Supe of the Luminaries, ‘‘never having played it in my ife.” _ “Qh! never mind—it’s very easy,’ cried Mr. Bambross. ‘ Take the cue;’’—and before Mr. Pifpaf could offer any further remon- strance, or his friends, the captain or the tailor, could interfere to prevent him, he found himself suddenly pushed to one end of the billiard-table, with a cue in his right hand, a white ball in his left, and both his optics fixed upon a red one at the further extremity of the board. ‘““ Now, Pifpaf, fire away !’’ ejaculated Captain Pentonville, by way of encouragement; but the excellent chairman, who felt that his body ? e Bit | cComicbooks (E(0)