The Steam-Packet: A Tale of the River and the Ocean — page 204: what you’re looking at

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

THE STEAM PACKET. Lo& “ Jerome Bellicault,” was the answer. ‘To Jerome Bellicault, to be by him applied, and at his discretion, to charitable purposes. Jtem, I bequeath the sum of five thousand francs, also standing: in my name on the Great Book, to—your name, worthy sir ?”’ ““Mare Moulin,” replied the notary, to whom the question was addressed. ‘“‘'To Marc Moulin, for his own use and benefit; and to be considered: as a small testimony of my respect, and also as payment in fuli for the drawing up. of this. my last will and testament, to which I hereby nominate him the sole executor.” The invalid paused—the notary took a pinch of snuff complacently. —the priest exchanged a nod of intelligence and joy with the landlord —and Captain Pentonville wondered what was coming next. “ [tem,” proceeded the invalid, ‘‘ I will and bequeath to his Majesty the King of the French, all the wines in my cellars, and my library, at my mansion, No. 20, Rue de Lille, Paris, as a proof of my admira- _ tion of his character and policy. tem, I bequeath to Nicholas Touchet, the honourable landlord of the Great Duck, who is a re- spectable, amiable, and incomparable man, and who entertains a great respect for the Poles in general—I bequeath, I say, to that estimable. citizen——. ”” The. host of the Grand Canard had tears in his eyes, and was deeply affected by this instance of gratitude—“ the more so, since he had'demanded payment of his bill that morning in no measured terms, only a few moments before the unfortunate gentleman was compelled to take to that bed from which he seemed never destined tu rise again.”” Such was the information conveyed by himself in a whisper to Captain Pentonville, and to which the captain most strangely replied by imi- tating the working of a coffee mill with both hands. _ “To that estimable citizen,’ continued the Polish invalid, “‘twenty- five thousand francs in ready money, and the sum of three hundred and nineteen francs which form the amount of my present bill—all of which shall be paid to him within a period of three months from the day of my death, by the executor of this my last will and testament; on condition that the said landlord shall pay the expenses of my funeral —a condition which it will soon be his duty to fulfil; for I feel—that —I am—dying !”’ ‘‘Ah! my noble Pole—my excellent gentleman!” cried the host, “you may die in tranquillity relative to your funeral: it shall be the handsomest I can procure for money! The bells shall ring a peal while the service lasts—and I promise you a dozen. masses besides.: ‘cCOmIEHDOOKS (E(0)