The Steam-Packet: A Tale of the River and the Ocean — page 191: what you’re looking at

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

142 THE STEAM PACKET. “How generous!” exclaimed Mr. Pifpaf, who drank in the tailor’s ‘stories with the same facility as he imbibed his wine—and about that he made no difficulty at all. ' “ Yes—and Pentonville there, helped to arin some of it with me too—did ’nt you, old chap ?”’ added the tailor. | ‘““T shan’t very easily forget it,” replied the captain. “Ihave had too many opportunities of testing your lordship’s hospitality, to fail to remember any portion of it. You, and Pifpaf there, are my dearest friends in the world. Ladies and gentlemen, Noodleton and Pifpaf for ever!” The room shook with the loud “ huzzas” of the men; and the handkerchiefs of the ladies waved in approbation of the toast. The venerable chairman, overcome even to tears, shook hands with the tailor, and declared that that was the happiest day of his life. And here we may observe, ez passant, that Mr. Pifpaf must have passed a series of very felicitous days; for there had not been a single one for many years upon which, when his health was drunk at the club, he had not declared that ‘‘ that was the happiest moment of his existence.” When the dinner and its subsequent conviviality were entirely over, and both Mr. Pifpaf and Mr. Buckram were half-seas-over, these two gentlemen withdrew together to a private room, in consequence of a request proffered by the tailor in a whisper, that the chairman would grant him a few moments’ attention, relative to some business of the very greatest importance. Mr. Pifpaf seated himself with the most ceremonious dignity; and Mr. Buckram with the most dignified ceremony. The former en- deavoured to appear mysteriously wise, and the latter -wisely myste- rious ;—thus they formed a very “pretty little duo to discuss a matter of weight and moment. “My lord?” said Mr. Pifpaf, mterrogatively, as soon as he was comfortably settled in his chair. ‘‘ Pifpaf, old fellow,”’ ee the tailor, with equal courtesy, es the time is come for explanation.”’ He placed the fore-finger of his right hand perpendicularly up the right side of his nose, and looked as cunning as a gentleman could be — supposed to look at all, after having imbibed one bottle of champagne and two of burgundy. Mr. Pifpaf drew his chair a couple of paces nearer to that of the tailor, and prepared to listen with the most deferential attention. ‘Your lordship mentioned an explanation ?” ‘said Mr. Pifpaf, in- terrogatively once more. “Yes, old fellow—an explanation of a. most. delicate nature—very y icomichooks (C0)