Sam shook ’ands with ’im, and though Peter tried his ’ardest to make ’im alter his mind it was no good.  His uncle patted ’im on the shoulder, and said they’d try it for a few days, at any rate, and Ginger, wot thought it was a very good idea, backed ’im up.  Everybody seemed pleased with the idea except Peter Russet, but arter Sam ’ad told ’im in private wot a high opinion ’is uncle ’ad got of ’im, and ’ow well off he was, ’e gave way.

They all enjoyed the next evening, and Sam and Mr. Goodman got on together like twin brothers.  They went to a place of amusement every night, and the on’y unpleasantness that happened was when Peter’s uncle knocked a chemist’s shop up at a quarter-past twelve one night to buy a penn’orth o’ peppermint lozenges.

They ’ad four of the ’appiest evenings together that Sam ’ad ever known; and Mr. Goodman would ’ave been just as ‘appy too if it hadn’t ha’ been for the thoughts o’ that five pounds.  The more ’e thought of it the more unlikely it seemed that ’is wife would blame it on to the sweep, and one night he took the match-box out of ’is pocket and shook his ’ead over it till Sam felt quite sorry for ’im.

“Don’t take up your troubles afore they come,” he ses.  “Orsepittles are dangerous places.”

Mr. Goodman cheered up a bit at that, but he got miserable agin the next night because ’is money was getting low and he wanted another week in London.

“I’ve got seven shillings and fourpence and two stamps left,” he ses.  “Where it’s all gone to I can’t think.”

“Don’t you worry about that,” ses Sam.  “I’ve got a pound or two left yet.”

“No, I ain’t going to be a burden on you,” ses Mr. Goodman, “but another week I must ’ave, so I must get the money somehow.  Peter can’t spend much, the way he goes on.”

Sam gave a little cough.

“I’ll get a pound or two out of ’im,” ses Mr. Goodman.

Sam coughed agin.  “Won’t he think it rather funny?” he ses, arter a bit.

“Not if it’s managed properly,” ses Mr. Good-man, thinking ’ard.  “I’ll tell you ’ow we’ll do it.  To-morrow morning, while we are eating of our breakfast, you ask me to lend you a pound or two.”

Sam, what ’ad just taken up ’is glass for a drink, put it down agin and stared at ’im.

“But I don’t want no money,” he ses; “and, besides, you ’aven’t got any.”

“You do as I tell you,” ses Mr. Goodman, “and when you’ve got it, you hand it over to me, see?  Ask me to lend you five pounds.”

Sam thought as ’ow the whiskey ’ad got to Mr. Goodman’s ’ead at last.  ’Owever, to pacify ’im he promised to do wot ’e was told, and next morning, when they was all at breakfast, he looks over and catches Mr. Goodman’s eye.

“I wonder if I might be so bold as to ask a favor of you?” he ses.

“Certainly,” ses Peter’s uncle, “and glad I shall be to oblige you.  There is no man I’ve got a greater respect for.”