CHAPTER XLI.
A DINNER AND A DEAL Another grand dinner, on a more extensive scale than its predecessor, marked the day of this glorious run.
'There's goin' to be a great blow-out,' observed Mr.Spraggon to Mr.
Sponge, as, crossing his hands and resting them on the crown of his head, he threw himself back in his easy-chair, to recruit after the exertion of concocting the description of the run.
'How d'ye know ?' asked Sponge.
'Saw by the dinner table as we passed,' replied Jack, adding, 'it reaches nearly to the door.' 'Indeed,' said Sponge, 'I wonder who's coming ?' 'Most likely Guano again; indeed, I know he is, for I asked his groom if he was going home, and he said no; and Lumpleg, you may be sure, and possibly old Blossomnose, Slapp, and, very likely, young Pacey.' 'Are they chaps with any "go" in them ?--shake their elbows, or anything of that sort ?' asked Sponge, working away as if he had the dice-box in his hand.
'I hardly know,' replied Jack thoughtfully.

'I hardly know.

Young Pacey, I think, might be made summut on; but his uncle, Major Screw, looks uncommon sharp after him, and he's a minor.' 'Would he _pay_ ?' asked Sponge, who, keeping as he said, 'no books,' was not inclined to do business on 'tick.' 'Don't know,' replied Jack, squinting at half-cock; 'don't know--would depend a good deal, I should say, upon how it was done.

It's a deuced unhandsome world this.

If one wins a trifle of a youngster at cards, let it be ever so openly done, it's sure to say one's cheated him, just because one happens to be a little older, as if age had anything to do with making the cards come right.' 'It's an ungenerous world,' observed Sponge, 'and it's no use being abused for nothing.