The Steam-Packet: A Tale of the River and the Ocean — page 376: what you’re looking at

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

THE STEAM PACKET. 289 He had not remained’ long in this state, when a clamorous ring at the bell of the prison gate aroused him from his reverie; and in a few moments Mr. Buckram entered the apartment in the custody of two gendarmes. ‘¢ Ah! Pentonville—what, you here!” ejaculated the tailor, struck with surprise at this most unexpected encounter ; ‘‘ what fe devil has placed you in this pleasant abode? Surely old Pifpaf *“ No,” answered the captain, coolly; ‘“ I am detained fer debt. But why do you come hither 2” “¢ May I never cut out another meatus er patch another elbow,” cried the tailor, “if I can exactly comprehend why myself. All I know is, that the circumstance of your coming after me last night to Samer, and taking away Belinda from my care, aroused the suspicions of the authorities ; and at seven o’clock this morning the Commissary of Police entered my bed-room at the inn in that town, and demanded who and what I was. I answered, boldly, Lord Noodleton,-because, do you see, I had arrived at the place under that name; when, to my ‘surprise, the magistrate declared I was an impostor—that is, as far as I could understand him—and, as I had no passport, ordered me to be sent back to Boulogne. So here I am—ignominiously detained in a common gaol—and all through your infernal ye in not carrying out the plans in which we had embarked !”’ Here Buckram threw himself upon a chair, and fell Into a sulky si- lence. Captain Pentonville did not feel anxious to renew his intimacy with his quondam associate ; and thus half an hour elapsed without a word being exchanged between them. The bailiff continued writing on one side ; and the gendarmes, after having signed the gaoler’s books, sat down to a lunch of rolls, saveloys, and small wine, on the other. Again the bell rang ; and this time Mr. Thomas Gibbins was ushered into the presence of his master. “Wery sorry to jine yeu here, sir,”’ said that functionary. ** Can’t be helped, Tom,’ responded his master, trying to look cheer- fake 3 “5 Herhaps i deserved it, fore pethaps it will do me a a lesson to me.’ ““My eyes!” ejaculated Mr. Gibbins at that particular moment ; “do you mean td say you’re in lavender, too 2” _»« These words were addressed to Mr. Buckram, who only replied with a savage grunt, and resumed his meditative posture, with his back to the company. A word from the captain, conveyed in a whisper, gave Mr. Gibbins an idea of the causes which had brought the tailor thither. *&T gee Pifpaf, sir,” said Mr. Gibbins, in the same low tone of voice; U comicbook (E(0) pees, EFS a OS Pde See > OS Se es tS .