"My dear Frank," now cried the restored friend, cordially stepping out of the ring, with regained self-possession regaining lost identity, "My dear Frank, what a funny man you are; full of fun as an egg of meat. How could you tell me that absurd story of your being in need? But I relish a good joke too well to spoil it by letting on. Of course, I humored the thing; and, on my side, put on all the cruel airs you would have me. Come, this little episode of fictitious estrangement will but enhance the delightful reality. Let us sit down again, and finish our bottle." (32, 5)
Okay, these three words dispel the spell, but this scene is way tricky. On the one hand, we're given complete freedom to take what happens to Charlie at face value, as an actual supernatural moment. On the other hand, Charlie says that he was joshing—he was only pretending to be a cheap and crass old goat. Which is it? We can't really say for certain. We are certain, though, that that's probably the point.