The Steam-Packet: A Tale of the River and the Ocean — page 364: what you’re looking at

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

THE STEAM PACKET. 283 “ villany ” had, at first, trembled upon the tip of his tongue; “‘ had you thrown yourself upon my mercy, revealed everything, and. avowed your fault,—even then, Pentonville, I would have forgiven you—I would have looked over it—for your sake—yes—for my daughter’s sake ;”’ —and as he uttered these words, a tear started into Mr. Pifpaf’s eye. “‘ By heavens! my dear sir,”’ ejaculated Captain Pentonville, ** such was my intention! I had written you a letter, contaming an account of everything, and throwing myself upon your mercy ; but——-”’ ** And what became of that letter ?’’ demanded Mr. Pifpaf, fixing a searching glance upon the countenance of the captain, and slightly shaking his head in an incredulous manner. “‘ Heavens! how circumstances conspire against me!” cried Pen- tonville, clenching his fists: ‘‘as I am a living man, I wrote that let- ter, and gave it to my man-servant last night, to deliver to you the first thing this morning!” ‘* And why was it not delivered ?” said Mr. Pifpaf. “It was lost—Tom lost it almost immediately after he received it,” returned Pentonville: ‘‘I take my God to witness that _ Young man,” said Mr. Pifpaf, with a sternness of expression which _ the captain never had beheld on that countenance before, * perjure not yourself! You cannot suppose that I should believe so absurd a tale. But here, sir, is the real Lord Noodleton: perhaps you will re- cognise your friend !’”’ ‘Mr. Pifpaf uttered these last words witha peculiarly sarcastic em- phasis: indeed he was annoyed and vexed with the captain, to whom he really felt favourably inclined, and whom he believed to be again attempting to delude him with mendacious narratives, intended as ex- tenuations and apologies for former misconduct, but of which they were in the old gentleman’s eyes merely ageravations. As Mr. Pifpaf spoke, a carriage, with arms emblazoned upon the panels, and drawn by four nee entered the courtyard of the Hotel d’ Angleterre. ‘That must be Lord Noodleton,” said Mr. Smale, as a middle-aged but imposing looking man emerged from the vehicle. ‘* Now, Pen- tonville,” he added, spitefully. | ‘““T have 2o¢ the pleasure of his lordship’s acquaintance,” exclaimed the captain, with a firmness of tone which seemed to imply that he was anxious to avoid all illegitimate pretension and deceit in future: “‘and now, gentlemen, if you will attend me to a private room, I will explain to you the whole circumstances connected with myself and the impostor Buckram, from beginning to end.” , Gomichbooks (E(0)