Silas, who had stimulated this anxiety by his hard reserve of manner, and who had begun to understand his man very well, replied with an air; as if he were saying something extraordinarily generous and great:

“ Mr. Boffin, I never bargain.”

“So I should have thought of you!” said Mr. Boffin, admiringly. “No, sir. I never did ’aggle and I never will ’aggle. Consequently I meet you at once, free and fair, with⁠—Done, for double the money!”

Mr. Boffin seemed a little unprepared for this conclusion, but assented, with the remark, “You know better what it ought to be than I do, Wegg,” and again shook hands with him upon it.

“Could you begin tonight, Wegg?” he then demanded.