I heered as 'ow Long Ned started for Hampshire this werry morning on a toby [Highway expedition] consarn!" "Ha!" said Paul, "then hang me if I know what to do!" As he uttered these words, a more thorough sense of his destitution (if he persevered in leaving the Mug) than he had hitherto felt rushed upon him; for Paul had designed for a while to throw himself on the hospitality of his Patagonian friend, and now that he found that friend was absent from London and on so dangerous an expedition, he was a little puzzled what to do with that treasure of intellect and wisdom which he carried about upon his legs.

Already he had acquired sufficient penetration (for Charles Trywit and Harry Finish were excellent masters for initiating a man into the knowledge of the world) to perceive that a person, however admirable may be his qualities, does not readily find a welcome without a penny in his pocket.

In the neighbourhood of Thames Court he had, indeed, many acquaintances; but the fineness of his language, acquired from his education, and the elegance of his air, in which he attempted to blend in happy association the gallant effrontery of Mr.Long Ned with the graceful negligence of Mr.Augustus Tomlinson, had made him many enemies among those acquaintances; and he was not willing--so great was our hero's pride--to throw himself on the chance of their welcome, or to publish, as it were, his exiled and crestfallen state.

As for those boon companions who had assisted him in making a wilderness of his pockets, he had already found that that was the only species of assistance which they were willing to render him.

In a word, he could not for the life of him conjecture in what quarter he should find the benefits of bed and board.