The Steam-Packet: A Tale of the River and the Ocean — page 223: what you’re looking at

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

166 THE STEAM PACKET. tive which the gendarme was giving relative to the motives of their capture and its consequences, when a town-sergeant entered the office, and addressed himself to the magistrate m the following terms :—~ “Sir, there is a young Englishman outside, having the appearance of a livery servant, who was standing near the Town-hall when the pri- soners were broughtin. He immediately uttered an exclamation show- ing that he is acquainted with them; and he now solicits admission.” ‘* By all means,” said the Commissary of Police: ‘‘allow him to come in,” | Searcely were the words uttered, and the town-sergeant reached the door, when Tom Gibbins rushed violently past him, and, hastening up to the prisoners, saluted them with the greatest respect, whispering at the same time, “‘ Pifpaf’s all right: he don’t know nothin’ wrong. Had n’t I better go and fetch him, if so be there’s his think queer agin you?” ‘‘ There is nothing, Tom,” answered the captain. “ This gen- darme ef ‘§ Stay ! !”’ cried the Goniiuiéaaese ; and Mr. Gibbins was inatgile separated from the prisoners by the powerful hand of the town- sergeant. An interpreter was sent for; and the Commissary then. fasion to _ question that faithful servant in the foJlowmg manner :— 7 ‘* Who are you ?” ““One Tummas Gibbins,” was the reply. ** What are you?” ‘‘ A walley-de-sham to that there gen’leman there; and as. walley- de-sham is out-an’ sou French, and no gammon, you can’t any vay mistake that there. | “* Who is your master?’’ ‘‘ Captain Pentonweal—and von o’ the most properest young gen'le- men he is too, I rayther think.” ‘Who is his companion ?” ‘“‘ The Right Reverend—no the Right Honourable poe Noodleton.” ‘‘ ‘Where did you see them last ?” ‘“‘ Yesterday momin’ at Gravlings ; ’’—and Tom then proceeded to explain in his own peculiar way how the two prisoners formed a part of the company voyaging for pleasure and intellectual profit in the Steam- Packet which had arrived that afternoon at Calais; how they had quarrelled with each other at Gravelines; how Mr. Pifpaf, in his capa- city of Chairman of the society to which they belonged, had sought the interference of gendarmes ; how the two gentlemen were determined to fight a duel, and accordingly escaped in the best way they could out Gomichbooks (E(0)