AN INVOICE OF THE HOUSE OF PENNYWORTH

Found paper — rendered to the estate of a gentleman lately deceased; margins crowded with arithmetic in a second, hungrier hand.

PENNYWORTH & PENNYWORTH & (FORMERLY) PENNYWORTH Counting-House, Murkminster Road — "Every Kindness Itemised"

TO: The Estate of the Late ............... (name withheld pending payment)

ITEM	SUM
Condolences, formal, one (1), delivered with hat removed	2 sacks
Removal of hat, wear and tear upon	1/4 sack
Wreath, RENTAL of, three days, collected promptly on the fourth	1 sack
Attendance at graveside, incl. standing, sighing	3 sacks
Sigh, supplementary, unsolicited but heartfelt	1/2 sack
Interest upon the above, accrued during the reading of this invoice	see margin
Late fee	4 sacks

IN THE MARGIN, COMPOUNDING DOWN THE PAGE: ...carried forward... and forward... the reader is advised to stop reading, as perusal constitutes borrowing...

AT THE FOOT, STAMPED: A Pennyworth handshake is included with every account, at no additional warmth.

AND BENEATH THAT, IN PENCIL, IN A DIFFERENT HAND ENTIRELY: Note: the late fee predates the funeral. Queried. Query itemised. Do not query again.