Whenhehadthusdisposedofhiscards，allbeingdoneveryquietlyandinasuppressedtone，MrPanckspuffedhiswayintohisownbreast-pocketandtuggedoutacanvasbag；fromwhich，withasparinghand，hetoldforthmoneyfortravellingexpensesintwolittleportions。’Cashgoesoutfast，’hesaidanxiously，ashepushedaportiontoeachofhismalecompanions，’veryfast。’
’Icanonlyassureyou，MrPancks，’saidYoungJohn，’thatIdeeplyregretmycircumstancesbeingsuchthatIcan’taffordtopaymyowncharges，orthatit’snotadvisabletoallowmethetimenecessaryformydoingthedistancesonfoot；becausenothingwouldgivemegreatersatisfactionthantowalkmyselfoffmylegswithoutfeeorreward。’
Thisyoungman’sdisinterestednessappearedsoveryludicrousintheeyesofMissRugg，thatshewasobligedtoeffectaprecipitateretirementfromthecompany，andtosituponthestairsuntilshehadhadherlaughout。MeanwhileMrPancks，looking，notwithoutsomepity，atYoungJohn，slowlyandthoughtfullytwisteduphiscanvasbagasifhewerewringingitsneck。Thelady，returningasherestoredittohispocket，mixedrumandwaterfortheparty，notforgettingherfairself，andhandedtoeveryonehisglass。
Whenallweresupplied，MrRuggrose，andsilentlyholdingouthisglassatarm’slengthabovethecentreofthetable，bythatgestureinvitedtheotherthreetoaddtheirs，andtouniteinageneralconspiratorialclink。Theceremonywaseffectiveuptoacertainpoint，andwouldhavebeenwhollysothroughout，ifMissRugg，assheraisedherglasstoherlipsincompletionofit，hadnothappenedtolookatYoungJohn；whenshewasagainsoovercomebythecontemptiblecomicalityofhisdisinterestednessastospluttersomeambrosialdropsofrumandwateraround，andwithdrawinconfusion。
Suchwasthedinnerwithoutprecedent，givenbyPancksatPentonville；andsuchwasthebusyandstrangelifePancksled。