“Come, come, sir,” said Mr. Wegg, throwing in a little encouragement, “that’s something, too.”

“It’s something,” answered Mr. Boffin, “but I’ll take my oath it ain’t much.”

“Perhaps it’s not as much as could be wished by an inquiring mind, sir,” Mr. Wegg admitted.

“Now, look here. I’m retired from business. Me and Mrs. Boffin⁠—Henerietty Boffin⁠—which her father’s name was Henery, and her mother’s name was Hetty, and so you get it⁠—we live on a compittance, under the will of a diseased governor.”

“Gentleman dead, sir?”