第62章

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。

Theonlywakingmomentsatwhichheappearedtorelaxfromhiscares，andtorecreatehimselfbygoinganywhereorsayinganythingwithoutapervadingobject，werewhenheshowedadawninginterestinthelameforeignerwiththestick，downBleedingHeartYard。

Theforeigner，bynameJohnBaptistCavalletto——theycalledhimMrBaptistintheYard——wassuchachirping，easy，hopefullittlefellow，thathisattractionforPanckswasprobablyintheforceofcontrast。Solitary，weak，andscantilyacquaintedwiththemostnecessarywordsoftheonlylanguageinwhichhecouldcommunicatewiththepeopleabouthim，hewentwiththestreamofhisfortunes，inabriskwaythatwasnewinthoseparts。Withlittletoeat，andlesstodrink，andnothingtowearbutwhatheworeuponhim，orhadbroughttiedupinoneofthesmallestbundlesthateverwereseen，heputasbrightafaceuponitasifhewereinthemostflourishingcircumstanceswhenhefirsthobbledupanddowntheYard，humblypropitiatingthegeneralgood-willwithhiswhiteteeth。

Itwasuphillworkforaforeigner，lameorsound，tomakehiswaywiththeBleedingHearts。Inthefirstplace，theywerevaguelypersuadedthateveryforeignerhadaknifeabouthim；inthesecond，theyheldittobeasoundconstitutionalnationalaxiomthatheoughttogohometohisowncountry。Theyneverthoughtofinquiringhowmanyoftheirowncountrymenwouldbereturnedupontheirhandsfromdiverspartsoftheworld，iftheprincipleweregenerallyrecognised；theyconsidereditparticularlyandpeculiarlyBritish。Inthethirdplace，theyhadanotionthatitwasasortofDivinevisitationuponaforeignerthathewasnotanEnglishman，andthatallkind