The Steam-Packet: A Tale of the River and the Ocean — page 61: what you’re looking at

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

36 ' HE STEAM PACKET. Rex “What is to be done? I am extremely anxious that my servant should accompany me to-morrow morning upon a little excursion,’ said the captain.. “ It is awkward—very awkward !” “<Not so awkward as you imagine,” said the tailor, complacently. ‘‘ Are there any means of supplying the desideratum ?”’ demanded the captain. ‘< Ample,” was the reply. ‘‘ Will you accompany me to a certain” ready-made clothes shop, with the proprietor of which I am acquainted —just upon speaking-terms, that’s all—and I will see you accom- modated? Then, should any alterations be required, I shall be most. happy to effect the same.”’ As Tom Gibbins entered at this moment with the change for the thirty pound note, Captain Pentonville had nothing to retain him at home; and he accordingly agreed to accompany Mr. Buckram—Tom receiving orders to follow them. In the meantime, Mr, Pifpaf had been loitering about the street, uncertain whether to break upon the captain’s retirement or not. Once or twice he was about to knock at the door; but the natural timidity of this great man’s disposition held him back. At length he saw Tom Gibbins suddenly issue forth, and repair to the public- house opposite. Mr. Pifpaf bolted up an alley leading to the private boxes of a pawnbroker’s shop, and came in violent contact with a gentleman who was just issuing from one of those convenient little recesses. ‘Well, now—stupid!” cried the gentleman; “‘ can’t you see f ‘‘God bless me!”’ exclaimed Mr. Pifpaf, to whose ears this voice was quite familiar. ‘‘ What—no—it can’t be—Mr. Rumtutch, the secretary of the Honourable and Independent Club of Luminaries ?”’ ‘¢ Damn the Luminaries!” cried Mr. Rumtutch, with most extraor- dinary abruptness ; and, pushing rudely by the chairman of the society which he thus impolitely anathematised, the secretary made his escape from the narrow passage, with a huge bande under his left ans and a pair of Wellington boots in his right hand. “ Very extraordinary this—very extraordinary!”’’ said Mr, Pifpaf to himself: ‘“‘and yet I could swear that it was Rumtutch.” _ Thus musing, the chairman of the Luminaries retraced his steps to the entrance of the alley, from which he peeped cautiously into the street. At that moment Tom Gibbins was returning from the public- house with the change; and as soon as he had entered the house once more, Mr. Pifpaf emerged from his hiding-place, uncertain what step to pursue. In another minute, however, he mustered up his courage, and gave a redundant knock at the front door. The front door opened Gomichooks: co