W. Pett Ridge

“ Marchant and Sprules found themselves, by the sport of circumstances, in agreement; the rest, with the exception of the proprietor of The Windmill, nodded approval of their contention. The Windmill, they argued, had made a good profit out of the young lady; The Windmill must take this fact into consideration in formulating its claim. Fair was fair, all the world over. Similarly, right was right, no matter where you lived. The proprietor of The Windmill, almost in tears, declared that his habit was to charge customers the merest trifle over cost price ”

“ Marchant, “but Mr. Banks don't seem to take the interest in public affairs like what he ought to do. Howsomever,” dismissing this point, “what we've got to consider now is whether we've come to what they call in the newspapers the crucial moment, or whether we ought to go on a bit further.”
“Young party seems fairly bent on getting away this evening,” remarked the owner of The Windmill. “In fact, I may tell you all she's settled up her bill.”
“My idea is,” said Sprules, “that we've arrived at the limit. Enough is as good as a feast.”
“Is the dog all right?” asked Mrs. Marchant. ”

“ My experience, my dear, tells me that it don't do to expect everything to 'appen all at once. Your dog—or rather the dog belonging to a gentleman military friend that you was taking charge of—slips his collar three days ago, whilst your train was stoppin' at the station, and makes off. You, being tur'bly upset, you gives up your journey, and you offers ten shillin' reeward. On my suggestion, you next day makes it two pound. Still acting on my racommendation, you, the foll'ing day, increases it to five. ”