He suffered himself to be led to the table, where, after having been introduced to the company in due form, he was accommodated with a seat near the chairman and called for a glass of his favourite beverage.
A profound silence, quite contrary to Mr.Pickwick's expectation, succeeded.

'You don't find this sort of thing disagreeable, I hope, sir ?' said his right hand neighbour, a gentleman in a checked shirt and Mosaic studs, with a cigar in his mouth.
'Not in the least,' replied Mr.Pickwick; 'I like it very much, although I am no smoker myself.' 'I should be very sorry to say I wasn't,' interposed another gentleman on the opposite side of the table.

'It's board and lodgings to me, is smoke.' Mr.Pickwick glanced at the speaker, and thought that if it were washing too, it would be all the better.
Here there was another pause.

Mr.Pickwick was a stranger, and his coming had evidently cast a damp upon the party.
'Mr.Grundy's going to oblige the company with a song,' said the chairman.
'No, he ain't,' said Mr.Grundy.
'Why not ?' said the chairman.
'Because he can't,' said Mr.Grundy.

'You had better say he won't,' replied the chairman.
'Well, then, he won't,' retorted Mr.Grundy.