The Steam-Packet: A Tale of the River and the Ocean — page 379: what you’re looking at

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

292 -THE STEAM PACKET. on to Boulogne, and get rooms ready for my reception,—you can con- ceive my astonishment, I say, when I was treated at first as an impos- tor, the landlord and all his servants assuring me that Lord Noodleton had already arrived there in the middle of the night. I was obliged to send for the Commissary of Police and exhibit my papers, as proofs of my identity; and thus it was that this rascal was detected and taken into custody.” | ‘‘T had done with your name then,” said Buckram, still in the same sullen tone, but with amanner which plainly showed that he was cowed by the presence of the nobleman; ‘‘ and I should have resumed my own as soon as [ set out on my journey to Calais, where I intended to go for the purpose of finding my way back to England. I hope your lordship won’t press this matter.” ‘‘ Press it, indeed !”’ ejaculated the Earl of Noodleton, a little co. tened; ‘‘ I could have you sent to the galleys if I chose.” Buckram turned very pale at this announcement, and begged very hard to be pardoned. For some time the Earl of Noodleton allowed him to plead without receiving a favourable reply; but at length he yielded to his prayers, and promised to show him mercy. ‘‘T will consent to look over this offence,” said his lordship, ‘‘ with the hope that the whole business will act as a warning to you in fu- ture. You will oblige me, sir, by retiring to some other part of the prison, so that my indignation may not be aroused again, during the few minutes I may have to remain in this room, by beholding your odious person. You need not be alarmed, sir—I shall take the neces- sary steps to obtain your release for you this afternoon. Go!” The tailor did not wait to be ordered to leave the room a second > time: he slunk away, dejected, cowed, and looking as miserable and crest-fallen as he had lately been insolent and overbearing. | As soon as Mr. Buckram had closed the door behind him, Lord Noodleton turned towards Captain Pentonville, and said in astern tone - of voice, ‘I presume, sir, that you are the person who originally intro- duced that impostor to this confidig and open-hearted gentleman?” His lordship pointed to Mr. Pifpaf as he uttered these words. _ ‘‘ My lord,’”’ said the captain, ‘‘I see that you have already learnt from Mr. Pifpaf the particulars of that transaction. Allow me to assure you most solemnly that I never contemplated the fraud; I had no motive for it—no plan to serve by it—no interest to promote, I had, foolishly, at different times affected to have the honour of your lordship’s acquaintance ‘ * And how dare you make use of my name in any way, sir?” de- manded the Earl of Noodleton. : Eomicbooks:. co