The Steam-Packet: A Tale of the River and the Ocean — page 381: what you’re looking at

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

29-4 THE STEAM PACKET, no longer any sinister motives to serve—exposed as I am, imprisoned as I am—that I determined yesterday morning to reveal every thing to Mr. Pifpaf, and throw myself upon his mercy. I made Buckram acquainted with my intentions, and I wrote a full explanation to you, sir,” addressing the chairman of the Luminaries; ‘“‘ but my servant lost the letter immediately after I entrusted him with it to deliver to you.” 3 “‘This I have heard before, Captain Pentonville,” said Mr. Pifpaf; ‘“‘ but I regret that I cannot put faith-——” “It is then my turn to speak,”’ exclaimea Mr. Smith, coming for- ward. ‘I am happy to be enabled to corroborate this erring but penitent young man’s assertions. I myself overheard him yesterday morning upon the pier assure the impostor Buckram that he would confess every thing to Mr. Pifpaf; and a strange coincidence has-also rendered me his witness with regard to the letter. Here it is,”” added Mr. Smith, taking the lost epistle from his pocket: ‘‘ I saw Mr. Pen- tonville’s attendant drop it accidentally last evening in the vicinity of the theatre; I picked it up; and, guessing its contents, for certain reasons of my own abstained from delivering it to Mr. Pifpaf until now.” ‘‘I am grateful to you, sir—deeply grateful for this readiness to speak in my behalf,” said Captain Pentonville, respectfully but fer- vently pressing the hands of the bilious old gentleman. “‘ Grateful, you dog !—grateful, indeed!’ ejaculated this eccentric individual: ‘if you wouldn’t be grateful to your own uncle, to whom would you, I should like to know ?” ‘* My uncle!” cried Pentonville, with the most unfeigned surprise. ‘*His uncle!” echoed Mr. Pifpaf and Lord Noodleton simulta- neously. | | ‘* Not the von vith the three balls over his door, I hope,” mur- mured a voice in the direction of the corner where Mr. Gibbins was posted. } ‘‘ Yes—your own and only uncle, Augustus,” said the old gentle- man, folding his nephew in a most affectionate embrace. ‘‘ My lord, —Mr. Pifpaf,’”’ he added after a pause, ‘‘ excuse me for the little du- plicity of which I have been guilty in concealing my real name, and adopting the common one of Smith. I only lately arrived in England from an Oriental clime, where the greater portion of my life has been passed ; and on my arrival in London my inquiries after my nephew were not responded to by the most satisfactory accounts. I heard that he had accompanied the club of Luminaries to France ;~and_I re- solved to be an eye-witness of his conduct. For that reason I assumed Gomicbooks (E(0)