“Now, wait a bit, Boffin; there’s something more. In your employment is an underhanded sneak, named Rokesmith. It won’t answer to have him about, while this business of ours is about. He must be discharged.”
“Rokesmith is already discharged,” said Mr. Boffin, speaking in a muffled voice, with his hands before his face, as he rocked himself on the settle.
“Already discharged, is he?” returned Wegg, surprised. “Oh! Then, Boffin, I believe there’s nothing more at present.”
The unlucky gentleman continuing to rock himself to and fro, and to utter an occasional moan, Mr. Venus besought him to bear up against his reverses, and to take time to accustom himself to the thought of his new position. But, his taking time was exactly the thing of all others that Silas Wegg could not be induced to hear of. “Yes or no, and no half measures!” was the motto which that obdurate person many times repeated; shaking his fist at Mr. Boffin, and pegging his motto into the floor with his wooden leg, in a threatening and alarming manner.
At length, Mr. Boffin entreated to