"Mr. Simpson (the 'leg) after having let a variety of expletive adjectives loose upon society, without any substantive to accompany them, tucked up his sleeves and began to wash greens for dinner. "While this was going on Mr. Pickwick had been eyeing the room, which was filthily dirty and smelt intolerably close. There was no vestige of either carpet, curtain or blind. There was not even a closet in it. Unquestionably, there were but few things to put away if there had been one, but, however few in number, or small in individual amount, still, remnants of loaves, and pieces of cheese, and damp towels, and scraps of meat, and articles of wearing apparel, mutilated crockery, and bellows without nozzles, and toasting-forks without prongs, do present somewhat of an uncomfortable appearance when they are scattered about the floor of a small apartment, which is the common sitting and sleeping room of three idle men. "'I suppose that this can be managed somehow,' said the butcher, after a pretty long silence. 'What will you take to go out?' "'I beg your pardon,' replied Mr. Pickwick, 'what did you say? I hardly understood you.' "'What will you take to be paid out?' said the butcher. 'The regular chummage is two-and-six; will you take three bob?' "'And a bender,' suggested the clerical gentleman. "'Well, I don't mind that; it's only a twopence apiece more,' said Mr. Martin; 'What do you say now? We'll pay you out for three-and-sixpence a week; come!' "'And stand a gallon of beer down,' chimed in Mr. Simpson. 'There!' "'And drink it on the spot,' said the chaplain; 'NOW!' "After this introductory preface the three chums informed Mr. Pickwick, in a breath, that money was in the Fleet just what money was out of it; that it would instantly procure him almost anything he desired; and that supposing he had it, and had no objection to spend it; if he only signified his wish to have a room to himself, he might take possession of one, furnished and fitted to boot, in half an hour's time. "With this the parties separated, very much to their mutual satisfaction, Mr. Pickwick once more retracing his steps to the lodge, and the three companions adjourned to the coffee-room, there to expend the five shillings which the clerical gentleman, with admirable prudence and foresight, had borrowed of him for the purpose. "'I knowed it,' said Mr. Roker with a chuckle, when Mr. Pickwick stated the object with which he had returned. 'Lord, why didn't you say at first that you was willing to come down handsome?'"