The Steam-Packet: A Tale of the River and the Ocean — page 347: what you’re looking at

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

266 THE STEAM PACKET. ‘‘Not a word more, sir—not a word more,” interrupted Tom, rising from his chair, and drawing his coat-sleeve across the bridge of his nose; ‘‘I’ll stick to you like a leech—and that’s all about it.” Mr. Gibbins stalked majestically out of his master’s room as he thus delivered his intentions ; and the captain remained for some time pon- dering upon the attachment of that faithful domestic fo his fortunes. He then remembered that the conduct of Mr. Buckram was to be closely watched ; and for this purpose he descended to the zable-d’ hote. room, where, to his astonishment and temporary dismay, he found Mr. Pifpaf and the mysterious stranger sitting hob-and-nob together, discussing a bottle of white wine and biscuits. ‘‘ Pentonville, my dear fellow,”’ ejaculated Mr. Pifpaf, ‘‘ allow me to introduce you to Mr. Smith, a gentleman who assures me that he has been deeply attached to the Luminaries—by hearsay only, of course—all his life.”’ ‘‘Tam most happy to make Mr. Smith’s acquaintance,’ stanmaeged the captain, ‘‘and am delighted to find that he entertains so good an opinion of the Luminaries.” ‘‘ Sit down, Captain Pentonville, sit ‘egal cried the elderly gen- tleman, in a patronising tone, and with more kindness of manner than he had shown in the gateway of the hotel in the morning. ‘“ There is another drop of wine in the bottle, and here is a clean glass. That’s right. Your health, Captain Pentonville!” ; Our hero turned pale, and seemed much confused, as he acknow- ledged this courtesy with a bow; for the stress was again laid, with bitter sarcasm, upon the titular distinction. In a few moments, how- ever, Pentonville recovered his presence of mind, for he saw by the manner of Mr, Pifpaf that no relation had been made to him by the new acquaintance whom he had picked up, calculated to injure his (the captain’s) interests. ‘The reader will of course comprehend the very natural anxiety which impelled Captain Pentonville to have the credit of being the first to make known the impostures, heretofore described, to Mr. Pifpaf. ‘“‘ Are you residing in this hotel, sir?” inquired the captaim of the bilious-looking gentleman. ‘* Yes, at present Iam,” returned Mr. Smith. ‘‘I arrived at Bou- logne yesterday, and stayed first at the Hotel des Bains; but circum- stances induced me to remove here within this hour.” ‘‘ And do you propose to make a long stay ?”’ inquired the captain, urging his query, however, with some degree of timidity. ‘‘ Propose !—propose, indeed!’’ ejaculated the old gentleman tes- tily: ‘‘man proposes, sir, and a higher power disposes! But, yes—”’ ? Gomichbooks (E{0)