The Steam-Packet: A Tale of the River and the Ocean — page 59: what you’re looking at

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

34 THE STEAM PACKRT, himself, He then affected to return into the parlour; but the moment Mr. Gibbins had left the public-house, the cunning chairman of the Luminaries hastened to follow him at a cautious distance. Now it happened that Mr. Thomas Gibbins pursued his way with extreme independence and zonchalance, looking neither to the right nor to the left, and never condescending to glance behind him. His four-and-ninepenny gossamer, considerably the worse for wear, was stuck over his right ear; his hands were thrust down to the very pro- fundities of his trousers’ pockets; and his legs swung about as he walked, as if they had been newly greased in all their joints. It was therefore fortunate for the plan of Mr. Pifpaf that Mr. Gibbins did not look behind him, although the respected chairman of the Lumin- aries was certainly ready at any moment to dart under an archway, or rush up an alley, in order to secure the success of his playful design by a temporary concealment. No such eclipse was, however, rendered necessary ; and in process of time Mr. Pifpaf beheld Mr. Gibbins turn into a house of very shabby and dilapidated appearance, in the street at the back of Truman, Hanbury, and Buxton’s brewery. While Mr. Pifpaf stood ruminating in the street, whether he should beat up the captain’s quarters or not, Mr. Gibbins ascended the stairs, and speedily introduced himself into his master’s presence. ‘Well, what news?” said the captain, anxiously surveying the countenance of his domestic. ‘‘ Nothin’ wery remarkable, sir,” replied Tom. “Saint Paul’s ain’t blowed avay; and the Bank of England ain’t Asgoun’ through the Insolvents’ Court. Here’s the answer,” The captain hastily tore open the paper, and his visual rays were immediately concentrated in the pleasing focus formed by the word Fifty upon one note, and @hirty upon another. : ‘‘ There ’s enough for all my expenses now,’ said the captain. “¢ And the livery, sir?” observed Tom, inquiringly. ‘s Apropos /” ejaculated the captain. ‘ Tell that anna Blea of a tailor in the opposite room, that Captain Augustus Pentonville wishes — to speak to him immediately. But ip one moment! What did Pifpaf say 2?” “‘ He weren’t at home ven I called,”’ answered Tom; ‘“ but I found him surrounded with baccy smoke in the parlour o’ the Musical -Vasp, or wotever the sign be; and he guv me a pint o’ fourpenny ale. He then vent home, and sehiwhed with that there little dispatch; and : wi for your sake ’twas a Veekly Dispatch.” ‘** Did he ask you where I lived?” demanded the captain, with a grim smile. com Comichbooks