The Steam-Packet: A Tale of the River and the Ocean — page 345: what you’re looking at

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

264 THE STEAM PACKET. cipate ey exposure the revelation which I am now firmly resolved to make.”’ ‘And you will give me till to-morrow morning to take care of myself?” said Buckram. | “‘ Certainly—I pledged myself to that effect ere now,” answered Pentonville. ‘‘I may write my letter this day; but it shall not be delivered to Mr. Pifpaf until ten o’clock to-morrow.” | “Very well,” murmured Buckram, doggedly. ‘‘I suppose we can now return to the hotel, as there is no time to be lost.” ‘‘One moment more,” said Pentonville, as a sudden thought struck _ him, “and I have done. Remember—if you attempt to abstract Belinda eke from her family’s care, I shall deem it to be my duty to interfere.” The tailor made no reply, but followed his more honest companion sulkily back to the Hotel d’Angleterre. 99 CHAPTER XXIV. IN WHICH THIS NARRATIVE CONTINUES THE PROCEEDINGS OF CAPTAIN PENTONVILLE AND MR. BUCKRAM, AND AGAIN REFERS TO THE BILIOUS OLD GENTLEMAN. Captain PENTONVILLE retired to his own room, and, in obedience to the suggestion of the mysterious stranger, sate down to pen the pro- posed letter to Mr. Pifpaf. He was determined not to deleberate upon the line of conduct he should pursue, for fear that he should be lost. He might be ruining his hopes and prospects; but he felt a certain. mental tranquillity as he proceeded in his honest intentions, which he. had not known for a long time. The letter was written: it contained a revelation of the deception practised by himself and the tailor, and boldly expressed the determination of the writer to throw himself upon the mercy of him whom he addressed. He folded, sealed, and directed the letter; and then placed it in his pocket, ready to be ‘delivered to Mr. Pifpat at the hour on the following morning already agreed upon with Buckram. ‘At all events,” said Pentonville to himself, ‘‘ : have done my duty, and I will now stand by all the consequences.” He rang the bell, and desired the waiter to send Tom Gibbins to him immediately. comilebooks..co ——_—-~