The Steam-Packet: A Tale of the River and the Ocean — page 311: what you’re looking at

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

238 THE STEAM PACKET, was a manof most extraordinarily abstemious habits ; for if he adhered to the above rule, whole days must have passed without the major taking anything at all, as he was by no means regular in the custom of dining. ‘However, he refused ‘“‘ his lordship’s ”” courteous offer, and withdrew to his own lodgings to smoke a pipe until the arrival of Captain Pentonville. . Meantime Mr. Buckram returned to his companions, and winks for some time a moody silence. He knew that this conduct would produce a theatrical effect, when the cause came to be divulged. At length Mr. Pifpaf found leisure, after the occupation of eating and drinking, and when the ladies had retired, to inquire into the cause of ‘‘ his lordship’s serious demeanour.” ‘‘Oh! nothing—nothing at all,” whispered Buckram: “only a message from that fellow Latitat: but Pentonville and I will arrange it between us.” ‘‘A message!” ejaculated Mr. Pifpaf, aloud; ‘* what !—a rise to a,duel 2?” | “Something of the kind,” returned the tailor, Wi a au which he was far from experiencing internally. ; “Very well, my lord!” said Mr, Pifpaf, slapping his seta upon ee table with an air of uous which became him greatly: “it is for me to settle the matter.”’ ‘“* Now I tell you what, Pifpaf,” cried the tailor; ‘‘I shall consider any man my enemy who interferes in the matter ;”— and as he ut- tered these words, with the most sincere inward hope that his warning would be disregarded, he rose from the table, and beckoned Captain Pentonville out of the room. When these two worthies were closeted together in the sleepin apartment of the latter, they commenced an earmest consultation upon the point at issue. werete To tell you the truth,” said Beaks as | feel _ no means. in- clined to fight this sbdadyel Latitat. He does not want for courage ; and although I will fight any man in England with fists, or will rush without hesitation.into the middle of arow, I can’t face a pistol.”” — ‘* But your honour is at stake, my good fellow,” observed the cap-' tains ‘‘ and cowardice does not assort better with an English. noble- man, than—than—what shall I say ?” “t hinitblaigite a pair of grey pantaloons, double-milled Saxony, with wooden shoes,’ suggested the tailor. | ‘‘ Be that the simile, then,” said Captain Pentonville. ‘‘ Hbweres I think it is very. likely that old Pifpaf will interfere, and. prevent ag duel.”’ 94 Gomicbooks:com